Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kasintahang babae | feminine, literally | |
| nobya | /ˈnobja/ (Standard Tagalog) |
The term is used to denote a female partner in a romantic relationship. Depending on the context and the level of formality, different words may be preferred, such as the standard nobya or the slang jowa.
What does it mean word for word?
The form kasintahang babae is a compound word consisting of kasintahan, meaning sweetheart or beloved and babae, meaning woman or female.
Which one should you use?
While kasintahang babae is more poetic or formal, nobya is the more common and standard term for girlfriend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal or serious relationship, you might use kasintahan to refer to a romantic partner. Among the younger generation, the slang term jowa is very popular, while the colloquial term syota is also used by Filipino youth. In very specific contexts, the formal term asawa (which means spouse) can sometimes be used to mean girlfriend.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term nobya is gender-specific. To refer to a boyfriend, the final vowel is changed to nobyo.
When do people say it?
When speaking to a girlfriend, the endearment hon (honey) can be added to the terms of address to show affection.
Did you know?
- The term jowa is a gender-neutral slang word that can refer to either a girlfriend or a boyfriend.
- The word nobya comes from the Spanish word for bride, which originated from the Latin word novus meaning 'new'.
- In some traditional or rural contexts, asawa is used for a long-term girlfriend to signal that the relationship is viewed as a lifelong commitment, even without legal marriage.
Examples in context
- Nobya ko na siya ngayon.She's my girlfriend now.This sentence shows how to state that someone is your girlfriend using nobya.Tatoeba #11273352 by qwertzu, translation #10573643 by DJ_Saidez
- Pasensiya na, may nobya na ako.Sorry, I already have a girlfriend.This sentence is useful for stating that you already have a girlfriend using nobya.Tatoeba #12149781 by qwertzu, translation #11683980 by Pacific
- Pagkatapos naming magkantutan sa puwit ng aking nobya, karaniwang kailangan naming maghugas na mabuti.After having anal sex with my girlfriend, we usually need to have a good wash.This sentence uses nobya in a highly explicit context.Tatoeba #4680572 by saluyot, translation #409759 by Lachy
- Mahal ko ang aking kasintahan.I love my girlfriend.
- Ang aking minamahal na kasintahan.My beloved girlfriend.
- Sino ang kasama mo, syota mo?Who are you with, your girlfriend?
- Hindi lamang siya ang kaibigan ko, siya din ang kasintahan ko.She is not just my friend, she is also my girlfriend.
- Siya ang aking kasintahan. Hindi ko siya papalitan kailanman.She is my girlfriend. I will never replace her.
- Kumain kami kasama ng aking syota kanina.We ate together with my girlfriend earlier.
- Si Nica at ang kanyang jowa ay magkasintahan na simula noong high school pa.Nica and her girlfriend have been together since high school.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jose is introducing Christina to his friend.
- JoseIpakikilala ko sa iyo ang aking kasintahang babae.I will introduce my girlfriend to you.
- ChristinaIkinagalak kitang makilala, Christina.It is nice to meet you, Christina.
- JoseSi Christina ang aking kasintahang babae.Christina is my girlfriend.
- ChristinaBagay na bagay kayong dalawa.You two look great together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girlfriend” translations and entries nobya, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries babae, nobya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
