kaya mo 'yan!
In Tagalog, "good luck" can be expressed as kaya mo 'yan! or galingan mo!
Meaning: used to wish fortune on someone or as encouragement (intj)
Ways to say it
| Tagalog |
|---|
| kaya mo 'yan! |
| galingan mo! |
These phrases are used to wish fortune on someone or to provide encouragement. Kaya mo 'yan! is an expression of encouragement used when someone is facing a difficult task or a daunting situation. You may also use the informal phrase Sana swertehin ka. among friends or acquaintances to mean "I hope you get lucky."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kaya mo 'yan! literally translates to "you can do that!"
Which one should you use?
Kaya mo 'yan! focuses on the person's ability to overcome a challenge, while galingan mo! focuses on the person performing a task with high quality or excellence, meaning "do your best!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase kaya mo 'yan! uses the contraction yan for the word iyan (that).
Did you know?
- In the Philippines, wishing someone 'good luck' before a performance is sometimes avoided by some who believe it might 'jinx' the outcome, similar to the 'break a leg' superstition.
- The phrase Sana swertehin ka uses the word swerte, which is derived from the Spanish word suerte.
- The word kaya shares its roots with the Malay word for 'wealth' or 'power', suggesting that being capable of doing something is historically linked to having resources.
Examples in context
- Galingan mo, Maria! Alam kong magaling ka sa pagsayawDo your best, Maria! I know you're great at dancing
- Kaya mo 'yan!You can do it!
- Huwag kang matakot, kaya mo 'yan!Don't be afraid, you can do it!
Example conversation
Christina is nervous before a job interview.
- JoseExcited ka ba para sa interview mo?Are you excited for your interview?
- ChristinaKinakabahan ako, Jose.I'm nervous, Jose.
- JoseKaya mo 'yan! Magaling kang magtrabaho.You can do it! You are a good worker.
- ChristinaSalamat sa suporta mo.Thanks for your support.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaya, mo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
