From root: ibig
Usage Note
Pag-ibig refers to the concept of love and is frequently used in romantic or poetic contexts, such as 'Ang pag-ibig ko ay tapat' which means My love is true.
Examples
" Malalim ang pag-ibig nila. "
Natural Translation
Their love is deep.
Literal Translation
Deep the love their.
" Ano ang tunay na pag-ibig? "
Natural Translation
What is true love?
Literal Translation
What the true that love?
" Ang tunay na pag-ibig ay hindi lamang sa masasayang araw, kundi pati na rin sa mga panahong puno ng pagsubok. "
Natural Translation
True love is not only for the happy days, but also for the times full of hardship.
Literal Translation
The true love is not only on happy days, but also too on the times full of trials.
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 workWord family
ibig has 8 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.
Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.
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.