mahal ko
/maˈhal ko/word by word
In Tagalog, 'my dear' is translated as mahal ko.
mahal ko is a term of endearment used to address someone the speaker loves. It can be used as a direct address to someone (vocative) or as a way to describe a person, such as in the phrase ang mahal ko to mean 'my dear one'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of mahal, which means 'dear' or 'expensive' and ko, which is the first-person possessive pronoun meaning 'my'.
Which one should you use?
While mahal ko is the standard form, you may also use Mahal for a shorter, more informal address or more formal variations like Mahal kong (name) or Minamahal kong (name) when including a person's name.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈhal ko/
Did you know?
- If you are shopping in a Filipino market and describe an item as mahal, you are not expressing affection, but rather complaining that the price is too high.
- The word mahal has deep roots in the Malay language, sharing a common history with the Indonesian word for 'expensive'.
- In Tagalog, the phrase mahal ko can be used for a romantic partner, a child, or a parent, as it covers any deeply loved person.
Examples in context
- Kumain ka na ba, mahal ko?Have you eaten already, my dear?
- Ingat ka lagi, mahal ko.Always take care, my dear.
- Para sa iyo ito, mahal ko.This is for you, my dear.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before one goes to work.
- ChristinaAalis na ako, mahal ko.I am leaving now, my dear.
- JoseSige, ingat ka sa biyahe.Okay, take care on your way.
- ChristinaSalamat, mahal ko.Thank you, my dear.
- JoseMahal kita.I love you.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mahal, ko) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ko, mahal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
