Tagalog speakers use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.
Check out these Filipino proverbs and Tagalog quotes below to gain some insight into Filipino beliefs and ways of thinking.
Below I’ve listed famous quotes in Tagalog, inspiring Tagalog sayings and common Tagalog proverbs.
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Famous Tagalog Proverbs & Tagalog Sayings
Below I’ve listed the most famous Tagalog proverbs and their meanings as well as some common Tagalog sayings. These are used often in day to day life.
- Kung may tinanim, may aanihin – If you plant, you harvest.
This famous Tagalog proverb teaches us that we need to work hard today to achieve our goals in the future.
- Kung pukulin ka ng bato, tinapay ang iganti mo – If someone throws stones at you, throw back bread.
This proverb means that instead of looking for revenge, we should show love and forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
- Matibay ang walis, palibhasa’y magkabigkis – A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.
This Tagalog proverb teaches us that people gain strength by standing together.
- Batong pagulong-gulong, di kakapitan ng lumot – A rolling stone gathers no moss.
This quote in Tagalog means that a person who does not settle in one place cannot gather any possessions, status or wealth.
- Hangga’t makitid ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot – When the blanket is short, learn how to bend.
This Tagalog saying means that we should be satisfied with what we have. If you have less in life, you should learn to adapt to your environment.
- Wala kang masasabunot sa kalbo – You cannot pull hair from the bald.
This proverb in Tagalog is similar to the English version ‘you cannot draw blood from a stone’.
It means that you can’t expect a person to give you something that they do not have.
- Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan – It is hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.
This Tagalog quote about life means that it is difficult to tell people something they are choosing not to see.
- Walang palayok na walang kasukat na tungtong – Every pot has a matching lid.
This beautiful Tagalog quote about love means that every person has someone out there who is perfect for them.
- Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga – If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.
This proverb in Tagalog means that if you work hard, you will reach your goals and be rewarded with success.
- Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw – A quitter never wins, a winner never quits.
This proverb means that to be successful, you should never quit.
- Ang lakas ay daig ng paraan – Strength is defeated by strategy.
This saying in Tagalog means that every strong opponent can be defeated with a strong strategy.
- Walang naninira sa bakal kundi sariling kalawang – Nothing destroys iron but its own rust.
This Tagalog quote means that a strong person can only be brought down by their own actions.
- Ang kita sa bula,sa bula rin mawawala – What comes from bubbles will disappear in bubbles.
This famous Tagalog saying is similar to the English version ‘easy come, easy go’. It means that things that come easily can also easily disappear.
- Ang kalusugan ay kayamanan – Health is wealth.
This proverb in Tagalog means that having good health is your most valuable possession.
- Maraming salita, kulang sa gawa – A man that talks too much accomplishes little.
This Tagalog saying means that actions are worth much more than words.
- Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kung pinagtutulungan – Anything that is heavy can be light if we put our resources together.
This proverb in Tagalog teaches us that if we work together, we can accomplish things easier.
- May pakpak ang balita, may tainga ang lupa – News has wings and the ground has ears.
This Filipino proverb means that gossip travels fast.
- Naghangad ng kagitna, isang salop ang nawala – He who takes a lot of risks loses more than he can gain.
This Tagalog quote means that you should be cautious and not take too many risks as you could end up with nothing.
- Ti kamatis, di agbunga ti mangga – The tomato plant doesn’t grow mangos.
This Filipino saying about family indicates that bad people come from bad families.
Inspirational Tagalog Quotes & More Tagalog Proverbs
Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational quotes in Tagalog as well as more thought-provoking Tagalog proverbs with English translation.
- Ang pagkakataon sa buhay ay madalang dumating. Kapag narito na, ating samantalahin – Opportunity only knocks once: Grab it or you’ll lose it.
This famous quote in Tagalog means that we should take all opportunities that come our way as they may not come again.
- Ako lang ang makakapagpabago sa buhay ko. Walang ibang makakagawa nito sa akin – Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.
- Ang buhay ay parang pagbibisikleta. Kailangang sumulong upang mapanatili ang balanse – Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.
- Magsama-sama at malakas, magwatak-watak at babagsak – United, we stand, divided, we fall.
- Magsisi ka man at huli wala nang mangyayari – There is no need to cry over spilt milk.
This Tagalog quote about life means that there is no point worrying about things that have already happened and cannot be changed.
- Tayo ang pinipili nating maging tayo – We are who we choose to be.
- Kagustuhan ang pagiging masaya. Maaari mong piliing maging masaya. May mga magpapalungkot sa iyo sa buhay, pero nasa iyo kung magpapaapekto ka o hindi – Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not.
- Walang tiyaga, walang nilaga – No pain, no gain.
- Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsang nasa ibabaw, minsang nasa ilalim – Life is like a wheel: Sometimes you’re up, and sometimes you’re down.
This famous Tagalog quote about life means that you will have both good and bad days.
- Maniwala kang kaya mo at nangangalahati ka na sa layunin mo – Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
- Huwag magbilang ng sisiw hanggang di pa napipisa ang itlog – Don’t count the chicks until the eggs are hatched.
This Tagalog inspirational quote references the fact that eggs are delicate and not all eggs will hatch. You shouldn’t presume that things will work out.
- Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na maaasahan – You will only know a true friend in times of need.
This Tagalog quote about friendship means that true friends will stand by you even when you have nothing to offer them.
- Ngumiti sa harap ng salamin. Gawin mo ito tuwing umaga at mapapansin mo ang malaking pagbabago sa iyong buhay – Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.
- Ang buhay ay hindi tugkol sa paghahanap sa sarili. Ang buhay ay tungkol sa pagbuo ng sarili – Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
- Ang naglalakad nang matulin, pag natinik ay malalim – A person who walks fast will have a deeper wound when he is pricked.
This Filipino quote means that you should take your time when making decisions. Don’t act too hastily as it could lead to bigger problems in the future.
- Hindi mo matatawid ang karagatan sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagtayo at pagtitig sa tubig – You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
- Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan – A person who does not remember where he came from will never reach his destination.
This quote in Tagalog means that it is important to recognise your roots and where you came from as this helped to get you to where you are today.
- Sa pinakamadilim na sandali ng ating buhay, kailangan nating magtuon upang makita ang liwanag – It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
- Ang palay ay parisan, habang nagkakalaman ay lalong nagpugpugay – Imitate the rice stalk: The more grains it bears, the lower it bows.
This Filipino quote means that the more we acquire in life, the more humble and respectful we should become.
- Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din – Better late than never.
This quote means that it’s better to do something late than never at all.
- Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi biro, ‘di tulad ng kanin, Iluluwa lung mapaso – Marriage is not a joke. It is not like food that you can spit out when it is too hot to chew.
This Tagalog quote about love means that marriage is a long-term commitment and you can’t just run away from problems that arise.
- Habang may buhay, may pag-asa – While there is life, there is hope.
- Madaling sabihin, mahirap gawain – Easier said than done.
- Ang sakit sa kalingkinan ay ramdan ng buong katawan – The pain in the little finger is felt by the whole body.
This Filipino quote about family means that when a problem arises for a single family member, it often impacts the whole family.
- Ang nakatikip na bibig ay hindi pinapasukan ng langaw – A fly will not enter a closed mouth.
This proverb warns you not to talk too much as you will eventually get into trouble.
- Aanhin ang palasyo kung ang nakatira ay kuwago? – What good is a palace if only owls live in it?
This Filipino quote means ‘what good is money if you live miserably?’.
- Batu-bato sa langit, tamaan huwag magagalit – If a stone thrown upward hits you, don’t take offense.
This Filipino saying means that you should not be offended by people’s criticism if the criticism was not aimed at you.
- Pulutin ang mabuti, ang masama ay iwaksi – Emulate what is good, ignore what is bad.
Best Tagalog Idioms & Tagalog Expressions
Below I’ve listed the most well-known Tagalog idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings.
- Daga sa dibdib
This idiom literally means ‘mouse in the chest’ but is actually used to describe worry or fear.
- Bagong hari, bagong ugali
This Tagalog idiom literally means ‘new king, new character’. It actually means that with new leadership, comes new ways of doing things.
- Magaan ang dugo
This idiom literally means ‘light blood’ however it is actually used to describe a person who is easy to get along with.
- Ang tulog na hipon, tinatangay ng agos
This Tagalog idiom literally means ‘a sleeping shrimp is carried away by the current.’
It is similar to the English version ‘you snooze, you lose’ and means that if you’re not paying attention, you won’t be successful.
- Bantay-salakayis
This idiom literally means ‘guard who steals’ but it is actually used to describe a person who pretends to be good for personal gain.
- Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo
This idiom literally means ‘of what use is the grass when the horse is already dead’. It’s used to mean ‘too little, too late’.
- Bulaklak ng dila
This Tagalog saying literally means ‘flower of the tongue’. It is used to talk about an exaggeration.
- Isulat sa tubig
This Tagalog idiom literally means ‘write it on the water’. It is used in conversations when you want to say that you’re going to forget something forever.
- Lahat ng gubat ay may ahas
This Tagalog idiom literally means ‘in every forest, there is a snake’. This phrase really means that everywhere you go, there will be people who cannot be trusted.
- Utok bolinaw
This idiom literally means ‘brains of a fish’. It is used to describe someone with little intelligence.
- Kabiyak ng dibdib
This Tagalog idiom literally means ‘half of the heart’. It is an idiom which is used to refer to a person’s spouse or partner.
- Matalas ang ulo
This Filipino idiom literally means ‘sharp-headed’. It is used to talk about someone who is intelligent.
- Hanginon
This expression literally means ‘to be windy’ but it is actually used to describe someone who is boastful.
- Nawong ug tadtaran
This Tagalog idiom literally means ‘face like a cutting board’ but it is actually used to describe someone who has a wide face.
Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Tagalog quotes and well-known Tagalog sayings & proverbs.
Thanks for reading this post on the best Tagalog quotes about life, famous Tagalog sayings and fascinating Tagalog proverbs.
These Tagalog quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Filipino beliefs and language.
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