Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| tag-araw | /taɡʔaˈɾaw/ (Standard Tagalog) /taɡˈʔaɾaw/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| tag-init | /taɡʔiˈnit/ (Standard Tagalog) /taɡˈʔinit/ (Standard Tagalog) |
In Tagalog, there are different ways to refer to the hottest season of the year. You can use tag-araw or tag-init to mean summer. Additionally, speakers sometimes use the phrase mainit na panahon, which literally means hot weather, to refer to the summer season because of the high temperatures. To explicitly refer to the season of summer, you may also use the phrase panahon ng tag-araw (time of summer).
What does it mean word for word?
The word tag-araw is a compound of the prefix tag-, which indicates a period or season and araw, meaning sun. The word tag-init is a compound of the same prefix tag- and init, meaning heat.
Which one should you use?
While both terms mean summer, tag-araw literally refers to the 'sun season' and tag-init refers to the 'heat season'.
How do you pronounce it?
/taɡʔaˈɾaw/
Did you know?
- Because the Philippines has a tropical climate, the 'summer' denoted by tag-araw is actually the dry season, as the country does not experience four distinct temperate seasons.
- While tag-init refers to the season, the root word init is also used to describe the 'heat' of a spicy pepper or a hot conversation.
- In the Philippines, tag-araw is the peak time for 'bakasyon', and the term is often synonymous with the school break rather than just a temperature change.
Examples in context
- Pinakagusto ko ang tag-init.I like summer the best.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for the season using tag-init.Tatoeba #1765018 by nonong, translation #256455 by CK
- Ito'y sombrero ko sa tag-init.This is my hat in the summer.This sentence is useful for describing an object used during the season using tag-init.Tatoeba #1857410 by nonong, translation #463310 by lukaszpp
- Sa iyo, anong umaanib sa tag-init?What do you associate with summer?This sentence is useful for asking about associations with the season using tag-init.Tatoeba #1905658 by nonong, translation #24392 by CK
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Christina and Mark are talking about the weather at home.
- ChristinaAng init naman tuwing tag-araw.It is so hot during the summer.
- MarkOo, mahirap magtrabaho kapag tag-araw.Yes, it is hard to work during the summer.
- ChristinaKailangan natin ng maraming tubig.We need a lot of water.
- MarkTotoo yan, Christina.That is true, Christina.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “summer” translations and entries tag-araw, tag-init, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
