What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mahal (love/dear), na mahal (the adjective is repeated with the linker na to express emphasis or "very much") and kita (a pronoun meaning "I [verb] you").
Which one should you use?
While Mahal kita is the standard way to say "I love you", mahal na mahal kita specifically adds the emphasis of "very much".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the setting. Iniibig kita nang lubos. is a poetic and formal way to say "I love you deeply." In contrast, Mahal na mahal talaga kita. is an informal and intimate way to express love. For a more casual or colloquial tone, you can use Sobrang mahal kita. If you want to express an overwhelming amount of love, you can say Mahal na mahal kita, sobra-sobra. To be respectful to an elder or someone in authority, you can use the polite form Mahal na mahal po kita by adding po.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun kita is a special dual pronoun that specifically encodes both the speaker (I) and the listener (you) into a single word. Repeating the adjective mahal with the linker na is the standard grammatical way to express the intensity of "very much" in this context.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈhal na maˈhal kiˈta/
Did you know?
- The word mahal is used for both 'love' and 'expensive'. This is because something that is deeply valued is also considered something of great worth or cost.
- In some linguistic theories, the Tagalog pronoun kita can be linked to the Spanish word quita, which refers to 'debt relief' or 'rent'.
- The word mahal can be used to describe a person who is 'dear' or 'beloved' as a noun, such as calling a partner 'my mahal'.
Examples in context
- Mahal na mahal kita.I love you very much.
- Gusto kong malaman mong mahal na mahal kita.I want you to know that I love you very much.
- Sana alam mong mahal na mahal kita.I hope you know that I love you very much.
Example conversation
A couple is having a romantic moment during a walk.
- JuanMahal na mahal kita, Angela.I love you very much, Angela.
- AngelaMahal din kita, Juan.I love you too, Juan.
- JuanSalamat sa pagmamahal mo.Thank you for your love.
- AngelaWalang anuman, mahal ko.You are welcome, my love.
