Ways to say it
| Tagalog | 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. While mahal kita is the standard way to express love in both romantic and familial contexts, other forms exist for specific stylistic purposes.
What does it mean word for word?
The word mahal can mean "expensive", "dear" or "love" depending on the context. The pronoun kita is a special dual pronoun that specifically means "I [do something to] you".
Which one should you use?
mahal kita is the standard and most common expression. iniibig kita is a more formal, poetic or intense version often found in literature or songs. iniirog kita is an archaic or highly literary form that is rarely used in everyday modern conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I love you too", you insert the word din (meaning "also") between the adjective and the pronoun, resulting in mahal din kita.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˌhal kiˈta/
Did you know?
- In the 17th century, using mahal to mean 'precious' was considered a figurative extension of its original meaning as 'expensive'.
- The verb iniibig is formed through a process called initial reduplication, where part of the root is repeated to change the word's form.
Examples in context
- Alam mong mahal kita.You know I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing that the person is aware of your love.Tatoeba #12266620 by qwertzu, translation #3330899 by CK
- Mahal kita.I love you.This is a simple way to say "I love you".Tatoeba #4639421 by ljmarcles, translation #1434 by awael58
- Mahal kita, Tom.I love you, Tom.This shows how to address someone by name while saying "I love you".Tatoeba #5361349 by kanlaon, translation #2765612 by CK
- Lolo, mahal ko po kayo. Sana po ay laging malusog at masaya kayo.Grandfather, I love you. I hope you always stay healthy and happy.
- Inay, iniibig kita nang labis. Salamat sa lahat ng sakripisyo mo para sa amin.Mom, I love you very much. Thank you for all the sacrifices you've made for us.
- Mahal kita, kapatid! Kahit nag-aaway tayo, alam mo sa puso ko na ayos lang tayo lagi.I love you, sibling! Even when we fight, you know in my heart, we're always okay.
- Sobrang mahal kita, Mama! Ikaw ang pinakamagandang regalo sa buhay ko.I love you so much, Mom! You are the greatest gift in my life.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mark and Christina are walking in a park at sunset.
- ChristinaMahal kita, Mark.I love you, Mark.
- MarkMahal din kita, Christina.I love you too, Christina.
- ChristinaSalamat sa pagsasabi niyan.Thank you for saying that.
- MarkPalagi mong tatandaan iyan.You will always remember that.
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.
