Tagalog: How to Say “Good Morning” Like a Local

Greetings have always been a part of our daily lives, and for most Filipinos, it is not only a welcoming gesture but also a sign of respect to a specific person. It will suggest that you recognize a particular person. There are so many Filipino greetings that can be said of a specific time of the day or within a particular scenario. 

Every morning, when you go out from the street, you can hear people saying “Magandang Umaga Po,” or translated as “good morning.” Magandang Umaga is a standard greeting by Filipinos every morning, wishing others a beautiful and joyous day. Greeting someone in the morning can also be a way of showcasing a positive vibe. 

If you want to go to the Philippines or if you have a Filipino friend, it is good if you can greet them with “Magandang Umaga.” It shows that you acknowledge the presence of a person in the morning. Also, greeting a person shows respect for Filipinos, especially elderly ones or authorities like teachers, police, and government officials. To know more about how Filipinos say “good morning” in different ways, read more below. 

How To Say Good Morning In Tagalog

Since Filipino use Tagalog or Filipino language as their national language, I have listed different morning greetings that can be said in different ways. The Tagalog word “Maganda” means beautiful, and “Umaga” means morning, so when you say “Magandang Umaga,” it means “Good Morning.”

“Magandang Umaga”

Magandang Umaga is the direct translation of Good morning. This morning greeting is what you often hear from many. This greeting is a casual way of acknowledging the presence of someone in the morning. It can be said to a friend, family member, or colleague.

Halimbawa

Anna: Magandang Umaga, Nay.

Nanay: Magandang umaga din anak.

Example

Anna: Good morning, mom.

Mom: Good morning too, Anna.

“Magandang Umaga Po”

“Magandang Umaga po” is the most respectful way of saying Good morning. This greeting is commonly noted to the elderly. The word “po” suggests respect, so when you are talking to the elderly, a person in authority, or someone you have the most respect, you need to add “po.”

Halimbawa

Apo: Magandang umaga po, lola

Lola: magandang umaga din, apo.

Example

Grandchild: Good morning, grandma.

Grandma: Good morning too, grandchild.

“Magandang umaga sa iyo”

Magandang umaga sa iyo means Good morning to you. This greeting is a formal way of greeting someone in the morning. This greeting is used when speaking to one person only. 

Halimbawa

Anna: Magandang Umaga sa iyo, Binibining Cruz.

Binibining Cruz: Magandang umaga din sa iyo, Anna.

Example

Anna: Good Morning to you, Miss Cruz.

Miss Cruz: Good morning as well, Anna.

“Magandang umaga sa inyo”

“Magandang Umaga sa inyo” is translated as Goodmorning to you. This greeting is said chiefly when greeting a group of people such as friends, family, classmates, or visitors. This morning greeting can be used in a formal setting.

Halimbawa

Binibining Cruz: Magandang umaga sa inyo mga bata.

Mga Estudyante: MAgandang umaga din po, Binibining Cruz.

Example

Miss Cruz: Good morning to you, children.

Students: Good morning too, Miss Cruz.

“Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat”

Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat means Good morning to all of you. This greeting is also another way of greeting a group of people or a large number of people. You can typically hear this in seminars, classes, mass, and other gatherings that include several people. It is also considered a formal way of acknowledging them in a particular scenario or event.

Halimbawa

Pari: Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Mga Tao: Magandang umaga po Padre.

Example: Good Morning to all of you. / Good morning, everyone.

People: Good morning too, Father. 

“Magandang umaga po sa inyo”

“Magandang Umaga po sa inyo” has the direct translation of “Good morning to you all,” denoting more than one person. Still, it can also mean that you are acknowledging and elderly persons/ Magandang Umaga po sa inyo can also be a greeting to one older person, which denotes greeting with respect.

Halimbawa

Apo: Magandang umaga po sa inyo, lola.

Lola: Magandang umaga din, apo.

Example

Grandchild: Good morning, grandma.

Grandma: Good morning, grandchild.

“Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat”

“Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat” means Good morning to all of you. This greeting is a respectful way of speaking to more than one person, to a crowd, or an audience. It can be said in a formal gathering or talking to many older people. 

Halimbawa

Guro: Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. MAraming salamat sa pagdalo sa ating miting.

Mga Magulang: Magandang umaga din po.

Example

Teacher: Good morning to all of you. Thank you for coming to our meeting.

Parents: Good morning too. 

How to say Good Morning in Different Filipino Dialects?

Filipinos have many dialects as it is an archipelago. I have listed here how to greet “good morning” in the local Filipino dialect. 

Local Filipino DialectGreeting
EnglishGood Morning.
TagalogMagandang Umaga
IlonggoMaayong aga.
CebuanoMaayong buntag.
IlocanoNaimbag a bigat
BicolanoMarhay na aga
KapampanganMayap a Yabak
WarayMaupay nga aga.
TausugMarayaw maynaat.
MasbatenyoMaayo na aga
PangasinenseMasantos ya kabuasan.
ChavacanoBuenas noches.
IvatanKapian kapanu dius si cha mavekhas.
IbanagMapia nga umma
GaddangMakasta a daddaramat.Nalawad agigibbat.
SambalMaabig a buclah.
AklanonMayad nga agahon.
RomblomanonMaayo nga aga.Maajo na aga.
Kinaray-a Mayad nga aga.
KabalianMaajong buntag.
SurigaononMaradjaw na buntag.
T’boliHyu h’lafus
ItawisNapia nga mataruk.
MaguindanaoMapiya mapita sa lekanu langun.
MaranaoMapiya kapipita
BinubolinaoMaabig a buklasYabi na.
BontocMapteng ja agsapa
CuyononMayad nga timprano.
BenguetGawis ay agsapa.
Most Common Filipino Nicknames

Takeaways

You can commonly hear a Filipino greeting you at any time of the day as it shows respect. Usually, they will start greeting you in the morning with Magandang “Magandang Umaga.” If you have a Filipino friend or plan to go to the Philippines, Filipinos will appreciate your morning greeting since they feel that you acknowledge their presence and wish them an excellent start to the day.

Regina and Joe

Hello! It's Regina and Joe here. Like many other couples, we met online and after a long-distance relationship, Joe decided to move to the Philippines, where we married and live together since 2017. In this blog, we will teach you how to enjoy the Philippines to the fullest and what to expect from Filipino culture. Who more than us can understand both the West and the East?

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