Marhay na banggi
To say good evening in Bicol, use Marhay na banggi, the evening greeting of the Bicol region of the Philippines.
Marhay na banggi is used both as a greeting when you arrive in the evening and as a farewell when you leave at night. To greet a whole group, say Marhay na banggi po sa indo gabos!, meaning good evening to all of you.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is made of marhay, meaning good, na, a linking word and banggi, meaning night or evening.
Which one should you use?
Maogmang banggi po. is another way to say good evening.
Did you know?
- In many Bicolano households, saying Marhay na banggi is often accompanied by the 'mano po' gesture, where a younger person takes an elder's hand and touches it to their forehead.
- While Marhay na banggi is the standard greeting, some Bicol dialects use magayon, a word that typically describes physical beauty.
- The term maogmang in the alternative greeting Maogmang banggi shares a root with the word for 'happiness', making the greeting closer to 'happy evening' than 'good evening'.
Examples in context
- Marhay na banggi sa saindong gabos.Good evening to all of you.
- Marhay na banggi, lolo.Good evening, grandfather.
Example conversation
Ricardo and Maria meet on the street as the sun sets.
- RicardoMarhay na banggi, Maria.Good evening, Maria.
- MariaMarhay na banggi man, Ricardo.Good evening too, Ricardo.
- RicardoSaan ka maduman?Where are you going?
- MariaPaduman ako sa balay.I am going home.
