Usage Note
Nene is a warm, affectionate term used to address or refer to a young girl, equivalent to 'little girl' or 'sis', and is commonly used by grandparents and older relatives. It also functions as a nickname for girls of various names, making it a universal endearment used across generations and regions.
Examples
" Halika rito, Nene. "
Natural Translation
Come here, little girl.
Literal Translation
Come here, little-girl.
" Halika rito, Nene, at tulungan mo akong maglinis ng bahay. "
Natural Translation
Come here, little girl, and help me clean the house.
Literal Translation
Come here, Nene, and help you me to-clean of house.
" Tuwing umaga, tinatawag ng lola ang kanyang apo na Nene upang samahan siyang magdilig ng mga halaman. "
Natural Translation
Every morning, the grandmother calls her granddaughter Nene to join her in watering the plants.
Literal Translation
Every morning, calls the grandmother the her granddaughter little-girl to accompany her to-water of the plants.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.
Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.
Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.
How to Say "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.