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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Mobiya

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English

to leave / to departverb

Alternative meanings

to leave; to depart; to go away; to abandon a place; to leave something behind, depending on context

Pronunciation

moh-BEE-yah

Root and affixes

Root: biya, related to leaving, giving up, or abandoning. Mobiya expresses that someone will leave or depart; mibiya/nibiya can indicate that someone left or departed.

Variants or conjugations

mobiya; mibiya; nibiya; biya; pagbiya; biyaan; gibiyahan; gibiyaan

Related words and expressions

lakaw = to go or walk; panaw = departure or journey; mobiyahe = to travel; hawa = to leave or move away; gibiyaan = left or abandoned; bahin-bahin = to divide into parts

Meaning and usage notes

Mobiya covers “partir” as to leave or depart. If “partir” means to divide into parts, use bahin-bahin or dibayid depending on context. If it means to travel, mobiyahe may be more precise.

abandondepartgo awayleaveleave behindmove away
Example 1

Mobiya ko karong gabii.

I will leave tonight.

Example 2

Mibiya siya sa balay sayo sa buntag.

He/She left the house early in the morning.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Ibabaw

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English

above; on top; over; surfaceadverb / preposition

Alternative meanings

above; on top; over; upper part; surface

Pronunciation

ee-BAH-baw

Root and affixes

Related to babaw, which expresses top part or surface. Sa ibabaw means on top of or above something.

Variants or conjugations

sa ibabaw; ibabaw sa; babaw; igbaw; dugang pa

Related words and expressions

below; under; high; place; surface

Meaning and usage notes

For physical location use ibabaw or sa ibabaw. For encima in the sense of besides or on top of that, dugang pa or an additional phrase fits better depending on context.

above, on top, position
Example 1

Anaa ang libro sa ibabaw sa lamesa.

The book is on top of the table.

Example 2

Ibutang kini sa ibabaw.

Put this on top.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

karne

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English

meat; fleshnoun

Alternative meanings

Food from an animal; it can also refer to flesh or body tissue depending on context.

Pronunciation

KAR-neh

Root and affixes

Loanword related to Spanish carne. In Cebuano it is commonly used for meat as food.

Variants or conjugations

karne; unod; beef; pork

Related words and expressions

food; beef; pork; chicken; fish

Meaning and usage notes

Karne is usually used for meat as food. Unod can mean flesh, pulp, or tissue depending on context.

fleshfoodmarketmeatnoun
Example 1

Ganahan ka og karne?

Do you like meat?

Example 2

Paliton nato ang karne sa merkado.

We will buy the meat at the market.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Reserba

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English

reserve; reservation; stock; sparenoun / verb depending on context

Alternative meanings

reserve
something kept for future use
stock or available supply
spare or substitute player
reservation, depending on context
restraint or discretion in some uses

Pronunciation

reh-SER-bah

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish “reserva,” adapted as reserba in Cebuano. For a formal reservation, reserbasyon is also used; for the action of booking, reserbar or mag-book may be used.

Variants or conjugations

reserba = reserve / stock / spare
reserbasyon = reservation / booking
reserbar = to reserve
gireserba = reserved
mag-book = to book, modern form for hotels, travel, or appointments
stock = stock, common commerce loanword

Related words and expressions

kwarto = room
hotel = hotel
biyahe = trip / travel
lingkoranan = seat
stock = stock / inventory
suplay = supply
tilipigan = place where something is stored

Meaning and usage notes

Use reserba when talking about a reserve, saved supply, or substitute. For a hotel, restaurant, flight, or appointment reservation, reserbasyon or mag-book may sound more natural. For nature reserve, reserba natural or protected area may be used depending on context.

bookinghotelreservationreservesparestocksubstitutetravel
Example 1

Naa mi reserba nga pagkaon para ugma.

We have food in reserve for tomorrow.

Example 2

Naa koy reserbasyon sa hotel.

I have a reservation at the hotel.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

teyoriya

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English

theory; explanation; frameworknoun

Alternative meanings

A set of ideas or an explanation that tries to understand a fact, topic, or phenomenon.

Pronunciation

teh-yoh-REE-yah

Root and affixes

Borrowed/adapted from teoría/theory. It may also appear as teoriya depending on spelling.

Variants or conjugations

teyoriya; teoriya; teoria

Related words and expressions

idea; study; understanding; concept; science

Meaning and usage notes

Used in school, science, ideas, and explanations. In everyday speech, it may refer to a possible assumption or explanation.

educationexplanationideanountheory
Example 1

Nindot paminawon ang imong teyoriya.

Your theory sounds interesting.

Example 2

Nagtuon mi sa teyoriya sa klase.

We studied the theory in class.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Bili

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English

to be worth / valuenoun / related verb

Alternative meanings

to be worth
value
cost
price
importance
merit
to have value
to value or appreciate

Pronunciation

BEE-lee

Root and affixes

Bili is the root for value, cost, or price. With forms and expressions like may bili, walay bili, or pabilhan it can express whether something is worth something, worthless, or valued.

Variants or conjugations

bili = value / cost / price
may bili = has value / is worth something
walay bili = has no value / worthless
bililhon = valuable / precious
kabililhon = value / preciousness
pabilhan = to value / give importance
gipabilhan = valued

Related words and expressions

balor = value
presyo = price
mahal = expensive / dear
barato = cheap
takus = worthy / deserving
importante = important

Meaning and usage notes

To ask how much something is worth, you can say pila ang bili. To say something is worth it, angay or takus may also fit depending on the context.

costimportancemeritpricevaluablevalueworth
Example 1

Pila ang bili niini?

How much is this worth?

Example 2

Dako og bili ang imong tabang.

Your help is very valuable.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Tambal

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English

medicine; medication; remedy; curenoun

Alternative meanings

medicine; medication; remedy; cure; treatment

Pronunciation

TAM-bahl

Root and affixes

Root: tambal. It can work as a noun, medicine or remedy, and also as a verb in some contexts: to treat or cure.

Variants or conjugations

medisina; midisina; medikasyon; mga tambal; pagtambal

Related words and expressions

doctor; pharmacy; illness; prescription; dosage

Meaning and usage notes

Tambal is the most natural option for medicine as a medication or remedy. Medisina is also understood, especially as a loanword for medicine or the medical field.

medicine, medication, health
Example 1

Kinahanglan ko og tambal para sa akong ubo.

I need medicine for my cough.

Example 2

Palita ang tambal sa botika.

Buy the medicine at the pharmacy.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Maneho

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English

to drive / to operateverb / noun

Alternative meanings

to drive
to operate
to control a vehicle
to steer a car
driving
handling

Pronunciation

mah-NEH-hoh

Root and affixes

Maneho can work as a root related to driving or handling. Common forms include nagmaneho for is driving and magmaneho for to drive.

Variants or conjugations

maneho = drive / driving / handling
magmaneho = to drive
nagmaneho = driving / is driving
gimaneho = was driven / was handled
driber = driver, English loanword
sakay = to ride or get in a vehicle, not necessarily to drive

Related words and expressions

kotse = car
motor = motorcycle / motor
sakay = to ride / get in a vehicle
driber = driver
biyahe = trip
dalan = road / street

Meaning and usage notes

Use maneho when the person controls the vehicle. If the person is only a passenger, sakay is better. For driver as a person, driber is also heard.

cardrivedrivingoperatetransportationtravelvehicle
Example 1

Kabalo ka magmaneho og kotse?

Do you know how to drive a car?

Example 2

Nagmaneho siya padulong sa trabaho.

He/She drove to work.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Pakigkita

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English

appointment; date; meeting; meetupnoun / verb depending on context

Alternative meanings

appointment
date
meeting
meetup
the act of seeing or meeting someone
romantic date, depending on context

Pronunciation

pah-kig-KEE-tah

Root and affixes

Related to kita, meaning to see or meet. Pakigkita expresses the idea of meeting or having an appointment/date with someone.

Variants or conjugations

pakigkita = appointment / date / meeting
magkita = to see each other / meet
makigkita = to meet with someone / see someone
kasabutan sa pakigkita = agreed appointment
date = romantic date, common English loan
appointment = formal appointment, common English loan

Related words and expressions

kita = see
magkita = meet / see each other
miting = meeting
iskedyul = schedule
oras = time / hour
adlaw = day
romantiko = romantic

Meaning and usage notes

Use pakigkita for an appointment, date, or meeting with a person. For a medical or formal appointment, appointment or kasabutan sa pakigkita may also be heard. For a romantic date, date is common in modern speech, but pakigkita can work if the context is clear. For a textual quote or citation, use kutlo.

appointmentdatemeetingmeetupromantic datescheduleseeing someoneto meet
Example 1

Naa koy pakigkita sa doktor ugma.

I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow.

Example 2

Naa mi pakigkita karong gabii.

We have a date or meeting tonight.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Litrato

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English

photograph / photonoun

Alternative meanings

photograph
photo
picture
portrait
image taken with a camera
visual memory

Pronunciation

lee-TRA-toh

Root and affixes

Litrato works as a noun for photo or portrait. It can also appear in expressions related to taking or showing photos.

Variants or conjugations

litrato = photograph / photo / portrait
retrato = portrait / photo, related loanword
hulagway = image / representation / description
larawan = image / portrait, more formal or literary
potograpiya = photography as an art, technique, or activity

Related words and expressions

hulagway = image / representation
larawan = image / portrait
retrato = portrait
potograpiya = photography
litratista = photographer

Meaning and usage notes

For a concrete photo, litrato is the most direct and common option. For photography as an art, profession, or technique, potograpiya can be more precise.

cameraimagephotophotographpictureportrait
Example 1

Nindot kaayo ang imong litrato.

Your photo is very beautiful.

Example 2

Nagkuha ko og litrato sa dagat.

I took a photo of the sea.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

pangbata

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English

childrens; for children; child-relatedadjective

Alternative meanings

Related to children, made for children, or belonging to childhood.

Pronunciation

pahng-BAH-tah

Root and affixes

Related to bata, child. Pangbata indicates that something is for children or child-related.

Variants or conjugations

bata; pambata; pangbata; binata

Related words and expressions

child; youth; family; school; play

Meaning and usage notes

Pangbata is useful for things intended for children. If infantil means immature in a negative way, another phrasing may fit depending on context.

adjectivechild-relatedchildreneducationfamily
Example 1

Pangbata kini nga libro.

This book is for children.

Example 2

Ganahan siya og mga salida nga pangbata.

He or she likes children movies.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Hatag

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English

to provide; to offer; to giveverb

Alternative meanings

to provide something; to offer; to give; to hand over

Pronunciation

HAH-tahg

Root and affixes

Root: hatag. Common forms: ihatag, to give or hand over something; mohatag, will give; naghatag, giving.

Variants or conjugations

ihatag; mohatag; naghatag; tagay

Related words and expressions

help; support; service; gift; toast

Meaning and usage notes

For brindar in the sense of providing or offering, hatag works well. For raising drinks or making a toast, tagay or expressions with tagay fit better depending on context.

provide, offer, give
Example 1

Mohatag sila og tabang sa komunidad.

They will provide help to the community.

Example 2

Ihatag nako ang impormasyon.

I will provide the information.

Found an error?