FAMILY

The English word can be transliterated into Tagalog as pámilí.

mag-ának
family

pamilya
family

malalaking pamilya
large families

Ito ang aking pamilya.
This is my family.

The Filipino words for ‘family’ are the Spanish-derived pamilya and the native Tagalog mag-anak.

kamag-anak
a relative

asawa
spouse
(wife / husband)

mag-asawa
a married couple

kapatid
sibling
(brother / sister)

magkapatid
to be siblings

magulang
parents

ama
father

ina
mother

tatay
dad

nanay
mom

anak
child

ate
older sister

kuya
older brother

panganay
eldest child

bunso
youngest child

apo
grandchild

lolo
grandfather

lola
grandmother

tiyo
uncle

tiya
aunt

pamangkin
niece / nephew

pinsan
cousin

biyenan
parent-in-law

manugang
child-in-law
(son-in-law /
daughter-in-law)

balae
child-in-law’ s parents

bayaw
brother-in-law

hipag
sister-in-law


inaanak
godchild

ninong
godfather

ninang
godmother

kinakapatid
godparent’s child

22 thoughts on “FAMILY”

    1. “Hipag” should still be applicable, i think.
      cannot be more specific than that as to mean you’re not the one with the sibling connection.

  1. do we have terms for in tagalog, kapampangan, ilocano, etc.
    1st cousin once removed (these are the children of my 1st cousins also for the 2nd cousins of my parents)
    1st cousin twice removed (these are the grandchildren of my 1st cousins also for the 3rd cousins of my parent)
    2nd cousin once removed (these are the children of my 2nd cousins)
    2nd cousin twice removed (these are the grandchildren of my 2nd cousins)
    3rd cousin once removed (these are the children of my 3rd cousins)
    3rd cousin twice removed (these are the grandchildren of my 3rd cousins)
    all these cousins names are very confusing.

    1. Wife (Maria) of the brother (Jose) of [your] father (Juan)?
      — first off, Juan is your Tatay (father)
      — Jose is your Tio (uncle)
      — so, Maria is your Tia (Aunt, by marriage).

  2. What are the words for great grand father and great grand mother? If you are just supposed to place the word great in front of grand ____, which form do you use? I’ve seen 10 different forms of “great”. Thank you! Opps.. Salamat!

      1. When I was in the western visayas (sibuyan island) I heard my father-in-law refer to my fiance who is the oldest daughter as inday or dai for short… She told me it just meant oldest daughter but was that Tagalog hiligaynon or visayan?

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