pera
/ˈpeɾa/
The English word "money" is translated into Tagalog as pera.
pera is the most common and standard way to refer to money in everyday Tagalog conversation.
Meaning: currency (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpeɾa/
When do people say it?
When handing money to someone, it is considered polite to use your right hand or both hands in Filipino culture.
Did you know?
- The Tagalog word pera has an unexpected and slightly cheeky origin from the Spanish word for a female dog, perra.
- While pera is the standard word, Filipinos often use 'datung' as a slang term for money in street language.
- While 'pera' is the standard term, if you are discussing silver or ancient coins, you might encounter the related Tagalog word pilak.
Examples in context
- Yari siya sa pera.He is made of money.This sentence uses pera to describe someone who is very wealthy.Tatoeba #13882949 by qwertzu, translation #292672 by CM
- Kumita ako ng pera.I earned money.This sentence uses pera to describe the act of earning money.Tatoeba #11463365 by qwertzu, translation #11377270 by Amastan
- Papel lang ang pera.Money is just paper.This sentence uses pera to state that money is just paper.Tatoeba #13889245 by qwertzu, translation #8329223 by AlanF_US
- Gusto kong mag-ipon ng mas maraming pera.I want to save more money.
- Magkano ang kailangan kong kapital para magtayo ng negosyo?How much capital do I need to start a business?
- Magtabi ka ng kwarta para sa kinabukasan.Save some money for the future.
- Ang halaga ng regalo ay 500 pesos.The value of the gift is 500 pesos.
- 237 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jose and Christina are talking about shopping at a mall.
- JoseMay pera ka ba?Do you have money?
- ChristinaWala akong pera ngayon.I don't have money right now.
- JoseKailangan mo ba ng pera?Do you need money?
- ChristinaOo, salamat Jose.Yes, thank you Jose.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
