Common Time Words & Expressions in Tagalog
Mastering common time words and expressions in Tagalog is essential for everyday conversations, scheduling activities, and understanding daily routines. This lesson covers important Filipino terms like “ngayon” (now), “mamaya” (later), “kanina” (earlier), and “bukas” (tomorrow), along with their English translations and pronunciation tips. You’ll also learn practical phrases that help you talk about hours, minutes, and approximate times naturally. Whether you’re planning meetings, describing events, or coordinating with friends and family, these time expressions make communication in Tagalog clearer and more confident. With examples, context, and cultural notes included, this beginner-friendly guide helps you remember and use common time words effectively. By learning these expressions, you can navigate schedules, daily routines, and social interactions with ease while improving your overall Filipino language skills.
List of Tagalog Time Words & Expressions
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| segundo | second |
| minuto | minute |
| oras | hour |
| araw | day |
| linggo | week |
| buwan | month |
| taon | year |
| dekada | decade |
| siglo | century |
| milenyo | millennium |
| kanina | earlier |
| kaninang umaga | this morning |
| kaninang tanghali | earlier at noon |
| kaninang hapon | this afternoon |
| kahapon | yesterday |
| kahapon ng umaga | yesterday morning |
| kahapon ng tanghali | yesterday at noon |
| kahapon ng hapon | yesterday afternoon |
| kagabi | last night |
| noon | back then / in the past |
| noong isang araw | the other day |
| noong isang linggo | last week |
| noong isang buwan | last month |
| noong isang taon | last year |
| noong nakaraan | in the past / previously |
| noong nakaraang linggo | last week |
| noong nakaraang buwan | last month |
| noong nakaraang taon | last year |
| kamakailan | recently |
| dati | previously |
| matagal na | a long time ago |
| noong unang panahon | once upon a time |
| ngayon | now |
| ngayong araw | today |
| ngayong linggo | this week |
| ngayong buwan | this month |
| ngayong taon | this year |
| ngayon mismo | right now |
| sa mga sandaling ito | at this moment |
| sa ngayon | as of now |
| sa mga panahong ito | these days |
| mamaya | later |
| mamayang hapon | this afternoon |
| mamayang gabi | tonight / this evening |
| bukas | tomorrow |
| bukas ng umaga | tomorrow morning |
| bukas ng tanghali | tomorrow at noon |
| bukas ng hapon | tomorrow afternoon |
| bukas ng gabi | tomorrow night |
| kinabukasan | the next day |
| sa isang araw | the day after tomorrow |
| sa isang linggo | next week |
| sa isang buwan | next month |
| sa isang taon | next year |
| sa susunod na linggo | next week |
| sa susunod na buwan | next month |
| sa susunod na taon | next year |
| sa hinaharap | in the future |
| isa sa mga araw na ito | one of these days |
| sa mga darating na araw | in the coming days |
| sa mga ilang sandali | in a few moments |
| sa lalong madaling panahon | soon / as soon as possible |
| balang araw | someday |
Try the short quiz below and check how well you remember these time words in Filipino.
| Nag-aaral ako ngayon. |
| (I’m studying right now.) |
| Mamaya na ako kakain. |
| (I will eat later.) |
| Nakita kita sa mall kanina. |
| (I saw you at the mall earlier.) |
| Dumating siya kahapon. |
| (He arrived yesterday.) |
| Lalabas kami mamayang gabi. |
| (We’re going out tonight.) |
| Pupunta ako roon sa isang araw. |
| (I’m going there the day after tomorrow.) |
| Nakausap ko siya noong isang araw. |
| (I talked to him the other day.) |
Learn more Filipino words in our Vocabulary Section.
| Magkikita kami bukas ng umaga. |
| (We’ll meet tomorrow morning.) |
| A-attend ako sa party mo sa susunod na linggo. |
| (I’ll come to your party next week.) |
| Babayaran kita sa susunod na buwan. |
| (I’ll pay you next month.) |
| Nasa Palau kami noong isang taon. |
| (We were in Palau a year ago.) |
| Lalabas kami mamayang gabi. |
| (We’re going out tonight.) |
| Aayusin namin ang problema sa lalong madaling panahon. |
| (We’ll fix the problem as soon as we can.) |
| Makakamit mo rin ang pangarap mo balang araw. |
| (You’ll achieve your dream someday.) |
Take this quick Tagalog Time Words and Expressions Quiz to test your knowledge of essential Filipino time-related expressions! Read each question and say your Tagalog answer out loud. When you’re ready, click the toggle to reveal the correct answer.
1. What expression refers to two days from today?
Answer: sa isang araw (the day after tomorrow)
2. What phrase refers to the upcoming week?
Answer: sa susunod na linggo (next week)
3. What word refers to the day after today?
Answer: bukas (tomorrow)
4. What time expression refers to the present moment?
Answer: ngayon (now / right now)
5. Which Tagalog word refers to the day before today?
Answer: kahapon (yesterday)
Watch more Tagalog Learning Videos
Learn how to tell the time in Tagalog with this step-by-step guide for beginners. In this lesson, you’ll discover the most common Tagalog time expressions, Filipino phrases for asking and telling the time, and practical examples you can use in daily conversations. We’ll cover how to say hours, minutes, and key time-related words in natural Tagalog.
Learn how to tell the date in Tagalog with this easy and practical lesson for beginners. This video teaches you the most common Tagalog date expressions, Filipino words for days, months, and years, plus examples of how to say and ask the date in natural conversations. You’ll also learn useful Tagalog vocabulary for calendars and everyday situations where dates are mentioned.
Discover the different parts of the day in Tagalog and how to use them in everyday Filipino conversations. This lesson covers common Tagalog words for morning, afternoon, evening, and night, along with natural examples to help you sound more fluent. You’ll also practice useful Filipino expressions that describe daily routines and time of day.
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