mahal kita
/maˌhal kiˈta/
The English phrase "i love you" is translated into Filipino as mahal kita. Wiktionary also lists iniibig kita and iniirog kita.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Filipino | IPA |
|---|---|
| mahal kita | /maˌhal kiˈta/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| iniibig kita | /ʔiniˈʔibiɡ kiˈta/ (Standard Tagalog, word by word) |
| iniirog kita |
These phrases are used to express an affirmation of romantic feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
In mahal kita, the word mahal can mean "expensive" or "dear/beloved", while kita is a pronoun indicating "I to you".
Which one should you use?
iniibig kita is a more poetic, formal and intense way to say 'I love you' compared to mahal kita. iniirog kita is highly archaic and literary, used almost exclusively in poetry or old songs.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the pronoun kita, which is a special dual pronoun that specifically means "I [do something to] you".
How do you pronounce it?
/maˌhal kiˈta/
Did you know?
- Filipinos often use the English phrase 'i love you' as a substitute for mahal kita in modern, urban settings to feel less formal or intense.
- Because mahal also means 'expensive', using it in certain ambiguous contexts can create a pun between romantic affection and high prices.
- The word mahal is a loanword from Malay, which is also found in Javanese as mahal.
Examples in context
- Alam mong mahal kita.You know I love you.This sentence shows the use of mahal kita in a context where the listener is already aware of the speaker's feelings.Tatoeba #12266620 by qwertzu, translation #3330899 by CK
- Mahal kita.I love you.This is a simple declaration using mahal kita.Tatoeba #4639421 by ljmarcles, translation #1434 by awael58
- Mahal kita, Tom.I love you, Tom.This shows how to address a person by name when using mahal kita.Tatoeba #5361349 by kanlaon, translation #2765612 by CK
- Mahal kita, aking minamahal.I love you, my beloved.
- Mahal kita talaga!I really love you!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a romantic dinner at a quiet restaurant.
- ChristinaMahal kita, Antonio.I love you, Antonio.
- AntonioMahal din kita, Christina.I love you too, Christina.
- ChristinaSalamat sa pagmamahal mo.Thank you for your love.
- AntonioPara sa iyo ang lahat.Everything is for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations and entries mahal kita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (iniibig, kita) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iniibig, kita, mahal, mahal kita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
