Maganda is the easiest and most direct way to say beautiful in Tagalog. And if you are fond of international beauty pageants, you must know that the Philippines holds at least 15 crowns from big-league international beauty pageants. In fact, a number of foreign nationals consider Filipinos as one of the most attractive and sexiest in the world. Want to compliment a Filipina? This post will guide you on the best ways to express the word “beauty” in Tagalog.
The Philippines is considered the home of unique culture, cuisine, language, and tourist destinations. But aside from all those, another thing that the country is most proud of is its citizens. Deemed as one of the warmest and friendliest people in the world in 2023, Filipinos can easily befriend tourists with their amazing skills in English, fit into any foreign place due to their unmatched flexibility, and blend well into a totally new community or culture.
Filipinos are one of the best, don’t you think? If you have a colleague, a friend, or someone special who shares this nationality, this post is definitely for you. You see, the word “beautiful” or “maganda” is one of the first few adjectives commonly translated into different languages. It’s versatile to the point that you can use it to describe a person, a place, a thing, or even an experience!
What Is Beautiful In Tagalog?
Have you ever heard someone say the magic word ganda once in a while? If you did, then there is a huge chance that that person is Filipino by heart. Basically, the word beautiful can directly be translated into the Tagalog term maganda. This term comes from the root word ganda (beauty), which comes from the Sanskrit word gandha, which refers to fragrance and amazing scent.
Maganda (pronounced as mah-gan-dah) is like a catch-all kind of word, which means it can be used as a generic one to describe English terms like beautiful, pretty, cool, great, good-looking, and nice. In this sense, you can use it to say maganda si Marian Rivera (Marian Rivera is beautiful) or maganda talaga ang kanyang alagang aso (his/her dog pet is really good-looking).
In the Philippines, this is also usually used as a compliment for ladies. Some even use it as a call sign for their special Filipina friends. However, if you want to compliment a man, you cannot outright use the word maganda. In this case, you can use gwapo or pogi, which can mean “handsome.”
Like in English, the word maganda can be substituted by other words. To make sure that you understand its common synonyms, take note of the example words below.
In today’s world, maganda and ganda are still rampantly used. However, the other terms from the table above are considered archaic and can only be heard or read in classic Filipino novels and dramas.
Other Ways On How To Use The Word Beautiful In Tagalog
It is not enough that you know the basic words if you cannot use them in an actual sentence. To give you a glimpse of how the words above are usually used in daily Tagalog conversations between locals, be sure to take note of the table that expands other ways to say beautiful in Tagalog below.
As I end this article, I hope that I was able to shed light and spark your interest in how to use the word maganda or beautiful in Tagalog. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it on social media and help us spread the word about what the Philippines offers!
Awaken The Filipino In You By Speaking Native Tagalog!
Set aside at least 10 minutes a day with the Ling app, and we bet that you can speak the language in no time! Unlike other languages, Tagalog is easier to remember even if it holds a unique set of words influenced by different cultures the country has come across. The language itself is charming in the sense that it holds an ever-growing collection of words and phrases that are heavily shaped by trends and history from all over the world.
Interested in learning more Tagalog language vocabulary words like how to express the basics to the most complex ideas? For extra reinforcement in the Tagalog language, be sure to check out the Ling app. This handy-dandy training buddy features fun mini-games and quizzes that can motivate you to practice and explore more about your target language day by day. Why not download the Ling app now from the Play Store and the App Store and enjoy learning 60+ languages? Learn different ways of saying beautiful in Tagalog in a fun and effective style! See you there!
Updated by: Jefbeck
