When it comes to Filipinos, sending an enthusiastic pagbati or congratulations in Tagalog is deemed culturally important since the locals love making each other feel supported and recognized for whatever achievements they have. However, instead of plainly saying binabati kita, you can use other Tagalog expressions to specialize your greeting.
In today’s post, we will walk you through the best Filipino ways to say your congratulations in Tagalog to impress the other person with your skills, too! If you are up for learning the Tagalog language, let’s dive right into it.
Table of Contents
5 Easy Ways To Say Congratulations In Tagalog
Fortunately, there are several ways by which you can say your pagbati. Take note of the words and phrases of the example sentences below.
1. Pagbati Sa Iyo!
Translation: Congratulations to you!
Example Sentence: Pagbati sa iyo, Mark! Napakahusay mo talaga! (Congratulations to you, Mark! You are so good!)
This phrase is perfect when you are personally congratulating someone for their achievements. According to the Filipino people, this sounds very formal, which means it might be a bit weird to have it said in real-life casual conversations.
2. Kongrats!
Translation: Congrats!
Example Sentence: Kongrats, Mark! Deserve mo yan! (Congratulations, Mark! You deserve it!)
This Filipino word is a transliteration for the casual word “congrats” and is perfect to use when speaking with family and friends. It can also be used with your colleagues, but if you plan to congratulate a boss or someone of authority. But it would be better if you used the first greeting on this list instead.
3. Pagpupugay!
Translation: Salute!
Example Sentence: Isang pagpupugay sa mga bagong gradweyt! (Salute to all the fresh graduates!)
This Tagalog congratulation word is also pretty formal and is mainly used for official greetings from the authorities or Philippine universities. It would be a great word to use when you are praising someone for their scholastic achievements or when someone wins a tournament.
4. Binabati Kita!
Translation: I congratulate you!
Example Sentence: Binabati kita sa iyong bagong trabaho! (I congratulate you for landing a new job!)
This Tagalog congratulation phrase is safe to use no matter what occasion or achievement it is. If you intend to greet as a group, you can change the word kita to ka namin to turn it into a plural.
5. Maligayang Bati!
Translation: Happy wishes!
Example Sentence: Maligayang bati sa inyo! (Happy wishes to all of you!)
This Tagalog greeting can be used in the first sentence and then followed by the reason why you are greeting. For instance, you want to praise someone for getting married, and you can simply say maligayang bati sa iyong kasal, which means happy wishes for your wedding. The bride and groom will appreciate it if you congratulate their wedding venue in the Philippines, too! You can also say maligayang bati sa iyong pagtatapos to congratulate a fresh graduate.
How Do You Say Congratulations In Tagalog?
The Tagalog word for congratulations is Binabati kita
However, this word is considered very old and is commonly used for formal gatherings or commencements.
Hence, we’ve gathered the previous Tagalog words for congratulations for you to memorize and use with your Filipino friends and loved ones.
Other Ways To Say Congratulations In Filipino
If you want to get a more casual way of saying congratulations, try out any of the Tagalog vocabulary below. If, by any chance, you want to learn the Tagalog language and not rely on translated phrases anymore, then be sure to check out our free language learning app known as the Ling app.
Common Questions When Saying Congratulations In Tagalog
What Are The Tagalog Slangs For Saying Congratulations?
A popular Tagalog slang for saying congratulations is grats! Another word similar to this phrase is “deserve”, which Filipinos will say when they are happy for the person achieving something.
Some millennials and Gen Z Filipinos will even say, Sana all! which is a popular Tagalog internet slang for wishing that your situation is the same as the person you are congratulating.
How Do You Respond To Congratulations In Tagalog?
If your Filipino friend congratulates you in Tagalog, here are the best responses:
What Are The Common Filipino Gestures When Saying Congratulations?
While saying congratulations in Tagalog, you should shake their hands or do a high-five when saying congrats to them. You should also put a huge smile on your face and really mean your congratulations. They will deeply appreciate your words and even become happy about you trying to memorize Tagalog expressions.
Why Do Filipinos Say Congratulations?
There is no denying that Filipinos are very sociable, whether in real life or on the web. If you are truly interested in starting a connection with a Pinoy, knowing some of the Tagalog words and basic phrases can definitely simplify your friend-making process.
While English is the second most used language in the country, nothing beats speaking Tagalog. It remains the easiest way to gain their attention and remove any room for miscommunication.
Aside from the basic greetings and saying po and opo to show respect, praising the Filipino people for special occasions is important. Commonly, the locals say congratulations due to the following reasons:
- When someone gets engaged or married.
- When they get a really high mark in school or graduate.
- When they scored a promotion or a new position.
- When they win a contest or an election.
Now that you know how to say congratulations in Tagalog, you can start cheering with your utmost admiration for someone’s achievement. Take note of the Tagalog translations you’ve learned for some of the most popular ways to say congratulations like a real pro.
Saying Congratulations In The Philippines: Dos And Don’ts
When you want to say congratulations in Tagalog, it’s good to keep a few things in mind so that your words fit the moment perfectly and show your respect for Filipino culture. Here’s a simple guide to help you:
Things You Should Do
- Use the Right Words for the Event: If it’s a big, serious event like a graduation, use formal words like Binabati kita! For a fun, casual event, you can be more relaxed and say something like Congrats! or Magaling!
- Think About What They Did: Say something that fits their success. For really big achievements, you might say Ipinagbubunyi ko ang iyong tagumpay! But for everyday wins, a simple Magaling! is great.
- Be Real and Kind: Filipinos love it when you genuinely share their happiness. Say things like Nakakatuwa naman! (That’s delightful! or How pleasing!)or Kahanga-hanga ka! (You are admirable!) to show you really mean your congratulations.
- Add Your Personal Touch: Saying something about their effort, like Ikaw ay karapat-dapat! (You deserve it!) or telling them you really admire their hard work, makes your congratulations more special.
- Show Respect: If you’re talking to someone older or in charge, use respectful, formal language.
Things You Should Avoid
- Don’t Be Too Casual with Strangers: If you don’t know the person well, stick to more formal words. Save the very casual phrases for friends.
- Don’t Make Light of Their Success: Always show that you think their achievement is important.
- Stay Away from Jokes That Could Be Misunderstood: Be sincere with your congratulations. Jokes or sarcasm might not come across the right way.
- Mind the Situation: Remember what’s happening around you. For example, don’t say congratulations during sad times.
- Choose Words that Fit the Moment: Don’t use slang or very casual language in serious or formal situations.
A Few More Tips
- Your Body Language Matters, Too: Smile and make eye contact when you say congratulations. It shows you really mean it.
- Wish Them Well for the Future: After saying congratulations, it’s nice to say something kind about their future, too.
So, that’s it for our little adventure into saying congratulations in Tagalog. It’s pretty easy to say, right? Just remember, always choose the right words for the right moment and show that you really mean it. So, the next time you need to say congrats in the Philippines, you’ll be ready to do it in style and with a genuine smile!
