mahal ka namin
The English phrase "we love you" is translated into Tagalog as mahal ka namin.
mahal ka namin is a phrase used by a group of people to express their affection for one person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mahal (love), ka (you) and namin (we/us, exclusive).
Which one should you use?
Use mahal ka namin when the group speaking does not include the person being loved. If the person being loved is part of the group, you would use mahal ka natin.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun namin is used to indicate that the "we" includes the speaker but excludes the person being spoken to. If you are addressing more than one person, or want to be more polite/formal, you should change ka to kayo, resulting in mahal namin kayo.
Did you know?
- The word mahal originally meant 'expensive' or 'costly' in Malay. The concept of 'loving' someone in Tagalog is tied to the idea that they are 'precious' or of great value.
- While mahal ka namin is heartfelt, Filipinos often use the English phrase 'I love you' in casual or romantic settings to avoid the intensity of the Tagalog term.
- In the Philippines, using mahal ka namin can be a way to express deep gratitude or loyalty to a leader or mentor.
Examples in context
- Mahal ka namin, lolo. Hindi namin maipaliwanag ang tuwa na nararamdaman kapag magkasama tayo. Sobrang nagpapasalamat kami sa iyo dahil sa iyong pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa aming pamilya.We love you, grandpa. We can't explain the joy we feel when we're together. We are extremely grateful to you for your love and care for our family.
- Huwag kang mag-alala, mahal ka namin.Don't worry, we love you.
- Lagi mong tatandaan na mahal ka namin.Always remember that we love you.
Example conversation
Jasmine and her siblings are giving a card to Jose.
- JasminePara sa iyo ito, Jose.This is for you, Jose.
- JoseSalamat! Ano ito?Thank you! What is this?
- JasmineKard ito dahil mahal ka namin.It is a card because we love you.
- JoseMahal ko rin kayo!I love you all too!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ka, mahal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
