Bisaya is one of the 8 major dialects in the Philippines. It’s the most common language in the Visayas and Mindanao where you are most likely to be visiting.
If you are heading to Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Siquijor, and the surrounding areas, please don’t throw “Mabuhay!” around 5 times a day. Guaranteed, you’ll like a fool.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a beautiful word to welcome you to the Philippines, but it must remain at the airport.
For starters, Cebuano and Bisaya are used interchangeably. You can use Cebuano or Bisaya to refer to the language spoken in Cebu or the person who lives in Cebu. If a person lives in Manila or Davao City in Mindanao and speaks the language, that person can be identified as Cebuano or Bisaya.
Learning some basic words or phrases in the Cebuano or Bisaya language is honestly pretty simple. Our alphabet is the same as the English language with subtle differences in pronunciation, and that’s what we’re teaching you here as well. The key here is to learn patterns of how the vowels are pronounced.
For example, the word apple is read as ˈap(ə)l in American English. If a Bisaya will read the word apple, it will become ä-pool. In Bisaya, Cebu is pronounced see·boo, not seɪ·boo as you would hear American YouTubers say.
Please note that the words/phrases/sentences mentioned here are primarily used in Cebu, the origin of the Cebuano or Bisaya language, which has spilled all over most parts of Visayas and Mindanao where they have certain variations. Nevertheless, you can learn the words and phrases here and still be understood outside Cebu.
Greetings
Maayong buntag! (mä-ä-yôNG, bün-täg)
Good morning!
Maayong udto! (mä-ä-yôNG, üd-tü)
Good noon!
Maayong hapon! (mä-ä-yôNG, häpün)
Good afternoon!
Maayong gabii! (mä-ä-yôNG, gä-bē-ē)
Good evening!
Maayong adlaw (mä-ä-yôNG, äd-lou)
Good day!
Kumusta? (kü-müs-tä)
How are you?
Salamat! (sä-lä-mät)
Thank you!
Daghang salamat! (däg-häNG, sä-lä-mät)
Thank you very much!
Walay sapayan! (wa-läy, sä-pä-yän)
You’re welcome!
Addressing People
Bai
This colloquial term is used to address a male friend (not necessarily related).
Sentence: Salamat, bai!
Translation: Thank you, my friend/brother!
Nong/Nang
These terms are used to address an elderly man or a male elder; mister/miss.
Sentence: Kumusta, nong/nang?
Translation: How are you, mister/miss?
Kuya/Ate
These terms are used to address an older brother/sister (not necessarily).
Sentence: Pilay plete padung Oslob, kuya/ate?
Translation: How much is the fare going to Oslob, bro/sis?
Palihog
Please
Sentence: Lugar lang ngari, palihog.
Translation: Just drop me here, please.
Ayo! (ˈäyo͞o)
This term is used to knock on the door (even without actually knocking on the door). It’s like saying, “Hello?”
Sentence: Ayo! Naay tawo?
Translation: Hello? Is anybody around?
Dining
Mangaon ta!
Let’s eat!
Lami!
Delicious!
Getting Around
Pilay plete?
This phrase is used to ask how much the fare is.
Common sentence: Pilay plete padung Moalboal?
Translation: How much is the fare going to Moalboal?
Lugar lang
This phrase is used to tell the driver to find a spot to drop you off.
Common sentence: Lugar lang ngari/ngara.
Translation: Just drop me here/there.
Bayad
This word is used to express the intention to pay the driver/conductor with a gesture of giving the money.
Sentence: Bayad.
Loose translation: Here’s my fare.
Dealing with Vendors
Pila? Or Tagpila?
This word is used to ask how much something is.
Common sentence: Pila ni/na?
Translation: How much is this/that?
Unsa ni?
This phrase is used to ask what a thing is.
Common sentence? Unsa ni?
Translation: What is this?
