babay
/ˈbabaj/
The Tagalog phrase for "bye bye" is babay.
Babay is used as a casual way to say goodbye when leaving someone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Babay is an informal and colloquial term. It is most commonly used among friends, family or when speaking to children. For more formal settings, you might instead use phrases such as Magandang araw po (have a good day) or Ingat po kayo (take care).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbabaj/
When do people say it?
While babay is suitable for close relationships or children, friends often use the informal phrase Sa uulitin (until next time) or Sige, ingat! (Okay, take care!) to end a conversation. In formal situations, it is more appropriate to use phrases like Magandang araw po (have a good day) or Ingat po kayo (take care).
Did you know?
- Although it sounds like a native word, babay is actually a direct loan from the English phrase 'bye-bye'.
- While an English speaker might use 'bye-bye' with any child, in the Philippines, using babay with an elder can sometimes be perceived as being too casual or even disrespectful.
- If you want to sound more like a local when leaving a shop, you might skip babay entirely and say 'Sige' which means 'Okay' or 'Go ahead'.
Examples in context
- Babay na ako!I'm saying bye bye now!
- Babay sa inyong lahat.Bye bye to all of you.
- Sige, babay!Okay, bye bye!
Example conversation
Christina and Jose are parting ways after a quick chat.
- ChristinaKailangan ko nang umuwi. Babay, Jose!I need to go home. Bye bye, Jose!
- JoseSige, babay na rin sa iyo, Christina.Okay, bye bye to you too, Christina.
- ChristinaIngat ka lagi!Take care always!
- JoseIkaw din, babay!You too, bye bye!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry babay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries babay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
