aking giliw
The Tagalog phrase for 'my girl' is aking giliw.
aking giliw is used as a term of endearment to refer to a female romantic partner.
Which one should you use?
While aking giliw is a way to express 'my girl', it sounds much more dramatic and romantic than the casual English phrase.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
aking giliw is a highly poetic and old-fashioned term often found in classical Tagalog songs and literature. For more formal contexts, you might use Ang aking kasintahan (my sweetheart or partner), Ang aking nobya (my girlfriend) or Ang aking sinisinta (the one I love). In informal settings, you can use Ang aking syota (my girlfriend), Ang aking jowa (used for a girlfriend or boyfriend) or the endearing Ang aking babe (used for a special someone in an intimate relationship).
Did you know?
- Using aking giliw in a modern romantic plea is sometimes viewed as 'harana' style, referring to the traditional practice of serenading a woman under her window.
- The word giliw can also be used to describe a child or a pet, shifting the meaning from romantic love to a general sense of affection.
- In the context of Kundiman music, using aking giliw often implies a sense of 'hapis' or soulful melancholy, a specific type of beautiful sadness common in Filipino art.
Examples in context
- Ikaw lang ang aking giliw.You are my only darling.
- Nandito ako para sa aking giliw.I am here for my darling.
- Mahal kita, aking giliw.I love you, my darling.
Example conversation
Jose is greeting Angela at the airport.
- AngelaJose! Namiss kita!Jose! I missed you!
- JoseNamiss din kita, aking giliw.I missed you too, my girl.
- AngelaSalamat sa pagdating dito.Thank you for coming here.
- JoseGagawin ko ang lahat para sa iyo.I will do everything for you.
