Priority in Tagalog: A Friendly, Deep Dive Guide

Introduction

I’ll never forget that frantic morning when I poured coffee over my planner—because I tried to juggle three deadlines at once. My friend, looking over my shoulder, laughed and said, “First things first!” It hit me—priority is more than just a to-do list item; it’s a mindset that changes how we tackle every task. In English, we casually say top priority, first things first, or put it on the back burner. But when you switch to Tagalog, there’s no one-word magic trick. Instead, you have a palette of words and phrases—prayoridad, unahin, una sa lahat, and more—that capture subtle shades of “what matters most.”

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• Core Tagalog terms for priority
• Noun, verb, and adjective/adverb forms
• Ready-made bundles (expressions figées) you’ll hear everywhere
• Taglish twists and idiomatic color
• Real-life examples—from morning routines to national policy
• Common slip-ups and how to avoid them
• Practice exercises to lock in your skills
• Typographical flourishes to give your notes that hand-written warmth

Ready to hit the ground running? Let’s sort your priorities—Tagalog style.

1. The Essence of “Priority”

Priority isn’t just about what comes next—it’s about what must come first. In English, we use phrases like:

• “My top priority is finishing this report.”
• “First things first—let’s clear our inbox.”
• “We’ll put the minor bugs on the back burner.”

Under the hood, priority answers two questions:

1. What deserves first attention?
2. What can wait for later?

Translating this mindset into Tagalog requires a toolbox of verbs, nouns, and phrases—so you can fine-tune your meaning.

2. Core Tagalog Terms: Your Building Blocks

Here are the four main ways to express priority in Tagalog:

1. Prayoridad (noun; from English “priority”) • Ang prayoridad ko ngayon ay makapagsulat ng kabanata. • Education and healthcare remain the administration’s primary prayoridad.
2. Unahin (verb: “to do first,” “to prioritize”) • Unahin mo muna ang kalusugan mo—without health, nothing else follows. • In our project, we’ll unahin ang user experience over fancy graphics.
3. Una sa lahat (phrase: “first of all,” “above all”) • Una sa lahat, mag-warm up muna tayo bago tumakbo. • In any crisis, una sa lahat—ensure everyone’s safety.
4. Pinaka-importante (superlative: “most important”) • Pinaka-importante rito ang tiwala ng kliyente. • Among these, mental well-being is the pinaka-importante goal.

These terms let you craft everything from quick reminders (“Unahin mo muna!”) to formal statements (“Ang pangunahing prayoridad…”).

3. Anatomy of Usage: Noun, Verb, Adverb

3.1 Noun Form: Prayoridad

• Singular: ang prayoridad • Ang prayoridad ng workshop ay tunay na hands-on practice.
• Plural: mga prayoridad • Itala ang iyong mga prayoridad para hindi ka maligaw.

3.2 Verb Form: Unahin / I-prayoridad

• Unahin • Unahin mong tapusin ang email bago mag-meeting.
• I-prayoridad (Taglish) • I-prayoridad natin ang feedback ng customer.

3.3 Adverb/Adjective Form: Una / Pinaka-Importante

• Una • Una, kumain muna tayo nang maayos.
• Pinaka-importante • Pinaka-importante sa araw na ito ang self-care.

Mix and match these forms to express action, intent, and hierarchy clearly.

4. Fixed Phrases (Expressions Figées)

Tagalog speakers lean on these ready-made phrases to convey “priority” without thinking:

• Bago ang lahat — “Before anything else”
• Pangunahing prayoridad — “Primary priority”
• Bigyan ng prayoridad — “To give priority to”
• Unahin sa lahat — “Put first above all”
• Ipauna — “To advance,” “to prioritize”

Each phrase is a linguistic shortcut—no assembly required.

5. Sprinkles of Taglish and Idiomatic Color

To sound like you’re chatting over kapeng barako, blend in Taglish and idioms:

• Top priority → top priority (Taglish)
• First things first → first things first or una sa lahat
• Back burner (deferred tasks)
• No-brainer (obvious priority)

These lively touches capture the fluidity of modern Filipino speech—dynamic and authentic.

6. Real-Life Scenarios

A. Personal Life & Time Management

1. Morning Ritual
2. Self-Care
3. Goal-Setting

B. Teamwork & Projects

1. Meeting Kick-Off
2. Task Selection
3. Resource Allocation

C. Governance & Public Policy

1. National Agenda
2. Disaster Response
3. Economic Stimulus

No matter the setting, these patterns insert priority with confidence and clarity.

7. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

1. Over-relying on “prayoridad” – Sprinkle in unahin and una for variety—avoid textbook stiffness.
2. Misplacing muna vs. lamang – Unahin mo muna = “Do this first, then move on.” – Unahin mo lamang = “Only do this first” (restrictive, sounds cold).
3. Dropping the article “ang” – ✅ Unahin ang pamilya. – ❌ Unahin pamilya.
4. Over-Taglishing in formal contexts – Keep I-prayoridad and top priority for casual chat—use native terms in essays or reports.

Spot these traps early, and your Tagalog will stay polished—and persuasive.

8. Hands-On Practice

1. Rewrite the Sentences
   • “My top priority is finishing this report.”
   • “First things first, let’s gather the team.”
   • “Neither time nor money should delay the project.”
2. Fill in the Blanks
   • ______ muna ang kaligtasan bago ang aesthetics.
   • I-______ ko ang health check-up this week.
   • Ang ______ ng kumpanya ay ang customer satisfaction.
3. Role-Play (with a Friend)
   • A: “Hindi ko alam kung ano ang uunahin.”
   • B: “____ sa lahat, ayusin mo muna ang workspace mo.”
4. Journal Prompt

These drills cement your grasp and turn new phrases into second nature.

9. Adding a Hand-written Vibe

To make your notes feel like they leaped off your notebook, sprinkle in:

— Italics for emphasis—unahin, bago ang lahat — Em-dashes—for asides—“Use una sa lahat—you’ll sound more conversational.” — Uneven spacing—“pri ority” for dramatic pause — Personal-style bullets (•)—mimicking quick journal jots

These micro-flourishes invite your reader closer, making your guide feel like a one-on-one coffee chat.

Conclusion

Translating priority into Tagalog goes far beyond slapping on prayoridad. By weaving in unahin, una sa lahat, and ready-made phrases like bago ang lahat, you’ll talk about “what comes first” in a way that feels natural. From personal routines to boardroom strategies and national policies, these tools give you the power to say, “This comes first”—with warmth, clarity, and flair.

So pick up a pen, scribble your top three priorities for tomorrow, and mutter to yourself—“Una sa lahat, unahin ko ang aking kalusugan.” You just leveled up your Tagalog. Congratulations—your priorities have never looked better.