25 Funny Tagalog Quotes And Proverbs (With English Translations)
For those looking for fun ways to improve their Tagalog skills, reading a few funny Tagalog quotes is a great place to start.
Tagalog quotes and proverbs are often used in Filipino culture to add humor and levity to a situation. They can be used to poke fun at someone or to simply make a point in a more light-hearted way.
What makes them useful for language learners is that they often contain a lot of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms. This means that you can learn a lot about the language and Filipino culture in general simply by reading them.
Plus, they’re just plain funny! If you need a good laugh, here are 25 awesome Tagalog quotes and sayings with their English translations. Do note that the translations aren’t word for word, but they should give you a good idea of what the quote means.
We’ve split them up into groups of 5 for easy navigation.
Tagalog Sayings 1-5
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo. | What good is the grass if the horse is already dead. |
| Walang palayok na walang kasukat na tungtong. | Every pot has a matching lid. |
| Kung di ukol, di bubukol. | If it is not relevant, it makes no difference. |
| Ang taong walang kibo, nasa loob ang kulo. | A person who is outwardly calm has anger raging inside. |
| Kapag apaw na ang takalan, kailangan kalusan. | When the pot runs over, you need to spill some. |
Tagalog Sayings 6-10
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Kung may isinuksok, may madudukot. | If you stash, you have something to withdraw. |
| Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kung pinagtutulungan. | A heavy burden is lightened if everyone participates in carrying it. |
| Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang malangsang isda. | He who does not love the national language is worse than a smelly fish. |
| Malaking puno, ngunit walang lilim. | A heavy tree trunk but it has no shade. |
| Walang lumura sa langit na di sa kanyang mukha nagbalik. | Nobody who spits upward does not spit on his face. |
Tagalog Sayings 11-15
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Ubos-ubos biyaya, pagkatapos nakatunganga. | Spend lavishly and you end up with nothing. |
| Malakas ang bulong kaysa sigaw. | Whispering gossip is louder than shouting it. |
| Ang taong walang pilak ay parang ibong walang pakpak. | A person who has no money is like a bird without wings. |
| Kung sino ang masalita ay siyang kulang sa gawa. | He who talks much never does much. |
| Ang hiram na damit, kundi maluwag ay masikip. | Borrowed clothes are either too loose or too tight. |
Tagalog Sayings 16-20
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Ang pili ng pili, natatapat sa bungi. | One who is choosy ends up with the least attractive choice. |
| Di man makita ang apoy, sa aso ay matutunton. | Even if you can’t see the fire, the dog can trace it. |
| Maghirap man ang katawan, ay huwag ang kalooban. | Even if the body suffers, the will does not. |
| Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw. | A quitter never wins, a winner never quits. |
| Ang ahas ay lumalaki sa balita’t sabi-sabi. | The snake thrives on gossip. |
Tagalog Sayings 21-25
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Di lahat ng kagalingan ay may dalang katamisan. | Not all goodness brings sweetness. |
| Pag hindi ka nagpautang, kakainin ka ng langgam. | If you don’t lend, you’ll get eaten by ants. |
| Walang naninira sa bakal kundi sariling kalawang. | Nothing destroys iron but its own corrosion. |
| Hindi kakamot sa ulo ang babaing walang kuto. | A woman without lice will not scratch her head. |
| Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpakatao. | It is one thing to be a person, to have a personality is another. |
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading these quotes as much as we did! Add them to your collection and use them to brighten up your day or the day of someone else.
And if you’re looking for more resources to help you learn Tagalog, be sure to check out our post Everything You Need to Learn Tagalog.
Or if you’re interested in some Tagalog entertainment, head on over to our comprehensive list of The Best Tagalog Movies on Netflix, where you can find a whole bunch of great films to watch to help you learn the language.
Have fun!
