Usage Note
Kitá is a contracted first-person pronoun combining the actor 'I' and the goal 'you' — equivalent to saying 'I [verb] you.' It is unique to Philippine languages and is used when the speaker is the actor and the listener is the object, as in 'Mahal kita' (I love you). It cannot be used in reverse order.
Examples
" Tatawagan kita mamaya. "
Natural Translation
I'll call you later.
Literal Translation
Will-call I-you later.
" Mahal kita nang walang hanggan. "
Natural Translation
I love you endlessly.
Literal Translation
Love I-you of-no end.
" Sasamahan kita sa ospital bukas kung wala kang makakasama sa pagbisita sa iyong lola. "
Natural Translation
I'll go with you to the hospital tomorrow if you have no one to accompany you in visiting your grandmother.
Literal Translation
Will-accompany I-you to hospital tomorrow if none you companion in visit to your grandmother.
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.
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.
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.
Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.
Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.