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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Basehan

English

to base / basisverb / noun

Alternative meanings

to base
to found on
to use as a basis
to ground an idea in something
to take as a foundation
basis or foundation, depending on context

Pronunciation

bah-SEH-hahn

Root and affixes

From base, a loanword related to base or foundation, plus the suffix -han. Basehan can work as a verb meaning to base something and as a noun meaning basis or foundation.

Variants or conjugations

basehan = to base / basis / foundation
ibase = based / based on, common modern form
gibase = was based / was based on
pagbase = act of basing
basi = based on / according to, depending on context
saligan = foundation / to rely on something

Related words and expressions

base = base
pundasyon = foundation
saligan = base / foundation / support
sumbanan = pattern / basis / model
rason = reason
ebidensya = evidence

Meaning and usage notes

Use basehan to base or ground an idea, decision, argument, or explanation. To say “based on,” forms such as basado sa, base sa, basi sa, or gibase sa are common depending on style and context.

argumentbasebasisdecisionevidencefoundationto base
Example 1

Basehan nato ang desisyon sa ebidensya.

Let us base the decision on the evidence.

Example 2

Gibase niya ang istorya sa tinuod nga panghitabo.

He/She based the story on a real event.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Biyahe

English

trip; journey; travel; routenoun

Alternative meanings

The act of going from one place to another. It can refer to a personal trip, a vehicle ride, a route, an outing, or travel in general.

Pronunciation

bee-YA-heh

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish viaje. From biyahe come forms such as magbiyahe, to travel, and nibiyahe, traveled.

Variants or conjugations

byahe; pagbiyahe; lakbay; ruta

Related words and expressions

travel; road; ride; airplane; bus

Meaning and usage notes

Biyahe is the common form for trip or journey. For to travel as a verb, use magbiyahe; for a fixed route, ruta may also be used.

journeyroutetransportationtraveltrip
Example 1

Dugay ang biyahe pa-Manila.

The trip to Manila is long.

Example 2

Gi-plano namo ang biyahe sa Disyembre.

We planned the trip in December.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Biyaan

English

to abandon; to leave; to desertverb

Alternative meanings

To abandon, leave, or desert; to move away from someone or something, leave it behind, or give up a responsibility, relationship, place, or idea.

Pronunciation

bee-YAH-ahn

Root and affixes

From the root biya, to leave, abandon, or give up. The form biyaan focuses on the person or thing being abandoned.

Variants or conjugations

biya = to leave or go away; gibiyaan = abandoned; pagbiya = abandonment or departure; abandonar = direct loanword

Related words and expressions

leave, abandoned, abandonment, turn away, remain

Meaning and usage notes

Use biyaan when someone abandons or leaves a person, place, or responsibility. For leaving a place neutrally, biya or molakaw may sound more natural depending on the sentence.

abandondesertgive upleavequit
Example 1

Ayaw ko biya-i.

Do not abandon me.

Example 2

Gibiyaan niya ang daang balay.

He/She abandoned the old house.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Pirma

English

signature / to signnoun / verb

Alternative meanings

signature
to sign
written signature
signature mark
to write a signature on a document
formal approval by signature

Pronunciation

PIR-mah

Root and affixes

Loanword from Spanish firma. Pirma works as a noun for a written signature and as a verb root for signing.

Variants or conjugations

pirma = signature / to sign
mo-pirma = will sign / is going to sign
mag-pirma = to sign / be signing
nag-pirma = is signing / signed, depending on context
pirmahan = to sign something / signing place
gipirmahan = was signed
pirmado = signed
signatura = signature, formal form

Related words and expressions

dokumento = document
kontrata = contract
papel = paper
resibo = receipt
kasabotan = agreement
kompaniya = company / firm as a business

Meaning and usage notes

Use pirma for signature or the verb to sign. If “firma” means a business firm or company, use kompaniya or kompanya. In official documents, signatura may also appear.

agreementcontractdocumentfirmsignsignatureTo sign
Example 1

Kinahanglan ang imong pirma sa dokumento.

Your signature is needed on the document.

Example 2

Pirmahi diri, palihog.

Sign here, please.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Rehimen

English

regime; system of government; systemnoun

Alternative meanings

Regime; a system of government, form of administration, or set of rules under which a country, institution, or organization operates.

Pronunciation

reh-HEE-men

Root and affixes

A loanword adapted from regimen/regime. It is used especially in political, administrative, or institutional contexts.

Variants or conjugations

regimen = spelling variant; gobyerno = government; sistema = system; regla = rule or regulation

Related words and expressions

government, state, system, politics, rule

Meaning and usage notes

Use rehimen for a political regime or administrative system. For government in a general sense, gobyerno may sound more natural.

governmentpoliticsregimerulessystem
Example 1

Nagbag-o ang rehimen sa nasod.

The regime of the country changed.

Example 2

Lisod sabton ang ilang rehimen sa trabaho.

Their work system is hard to understand.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Biyernes

English

Fridaynoun

Alternative meanings

The day of the week after Thursday and before Saturday. It is often associated with the end of the workweek, plans, rest, or weekend activities.

Pronunciation

bee-YER-nes

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish viernes. It is part of the names of the days of the week in Bisaya.

Variants or conjugations

Biyernes; Birnes; adlaw nga Biyernes

Related words and expressions

week; Huwebes; Sabado; day; weekend

Meaning and usage notes

In time phrases, it is often used with sa: sa Biyernes means on Friday; kada Biyernes means every Friday.

calendardays of the weekFridaytimeweekend
Example 1

Magkita ta sa Biyernes.

We will meet on Friday.

Example 2

Naa koy trabaho kada Biyernes.

I have work every Friday.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Impak

English

impactnoun / verb

Alternative meanings

impact
collision
blow
strong effect
repercussion
strong influence on something

Pronunciation

IM-pak

Root and affixes

Borrowed from English “impact,” adapted as impak in Cebuano. It can refer to a physical blow/collision or to a strong effect.

Variants or conjugations

impact = English form
epekto = effect / consequence / impact
epektar = to affect / have an effect
impluwensya = influence
bangga = collision / crash

Related words and expressions

epekto = effect / consequence
bangga = collision / crash
kadaot = damage
resulta = result
impluwensya = influence
sangputanan = consequence

Meaning and usage notes

Use impak when you want to emphasize impact as a blow, collision, or strong effect. For a general effect or consequence, epekto is more common.

blowcollisionconsequenceeffectimpactinfluencerepercussion
Example 1

Kusog kaayo ang impak sa bangga.

The impact of the collision was very strong.

Example 2

Dako ang impak sa iyang desisyon sa pamilya.

His/Her decision had a big impact on the family.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Dayalogo

English

dialogue / dialognoun

Alternative meanings

dialogue
dialog
conversation between two people
exchange of ideas
spoken lines in a play, script, or story
composition in conversational form

Pronunciation

dah-yah-LOH-goh

Root and affixes

Loanword related to diálogo/dialogue. Dayalogo is used for a conversation between people or written dialogue in plays, scripts, and stories.

Variants or conjugations

dayalogo = dialogue / dialog
diyalogo = spelling variant
panag-istorya = conversation / talk
panag-istoryahanay = mutual conversation
istorya = story / conversation / to talk

Related words and expressions

istorya = story / conversation
mag-istorya = to talk / converse
sulti = word / speech / to speak
pakigpulong = to converse / dialogue
guion = script
dula = play / game

Meaning and usage notes

Use dayalogo for formal dialogue, written dialogue, a conversation between two people, or an exchange of ideas. For everyday conversation, panag-istorya or istorya may sound more natural.

communicationconversationdialogdialogueliteraturescripttalk
Example 1

Mubo ra ang dayalogo sa duha ka karakter.

The dialogue between the two characters is short.

Example 2

Kinahanglan nato og dayalogo aron masabtan ang usag usa.

We need dialogue to understand one another.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kalimot

English

to forget; forgetfulness; oblivionverb / noun

Alternative meanings

To forget; to stop remembering a person, thing, fact, promise, or task. It can also express forgetfulness or a state of being forgotten.

Pronunciation

kah-LEE-moht

Root and affixes

Related to the root limot, to forget. Kalimot can work as a verb and also as a noun meaning forgetfulness or oblivion.

Variants or conjugations

limot = to forget; nakalimot = forgot; nalimtan = forgotten; malimoton = forgetful; dili malimtan = unforgettable

Related words and expressions

forget, memory, remember, forgot, forgotten

Meaning and usage notes

Use kalimot or limot for to forget. To say “do not forget,” a common form is ayaw kalimot. For “to remember,” use hinumdum.

forgetforgetfulnessforgottenmemoryremember
Example 1

Ayaw kalimot sa imong saad.

Do not forget your promise.

Example 2

Nakalimot ko sa iyang ngalan.

I forgot his/her name.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Amihanan

English

north / northernnoun / adjective

Alternative meanings

north
northern
northern part
direction toward the north
from or related to the north

Pronunciation

ah-mee-HAH-nahn

Root and affixes

Related to “amihan,” meaning north wind. With “-an,” it forms amihanan, meaning north or northern area.

Variants or conjugations

norte = Spanish loan also understood
amihan = north wind
amihanang = northern before a noun
amihananon = northerner / person from the north
amihanan-sidlakan = northeast
amihanan-kasadpan = northwest

Related words and expressions

habagatan = south
sidlakan = east
kasadpan = west
direksyon = direction
hangin = wind
lugar = place

Meaning and usage notes

Amihanan is the compass point north and can also work as an adjective for northern. Norte is also understood as a Spanish loanword.

compass pointdirectiongeographynorthnorth windnorthernnortherner
Example 1

Ang amihanan naa sa ibabaw sa mapa.

North is at the top of the map.

Example 2

Bugnaw ang hangin gikan sa amihanan.

The wind from the north is cold.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Konsiyerto

English

concertnoun

Alternative meanings

concert
musical performance
music show
music event
performance with singers or musicians

Pronunciation

kohn-see-YER-toh

Root and affixes

Loanword from Spanish concierto. Konsiyerto is used for a musical event or performance with singers, bands, or instrumentalists.

Variants or conjugations

konsiyerto = concert
konsyerto = common variant
konsert = modern English-derived form
pasundayag = presentation / show
pasundayag sa musika = musical presentation

Related words and expressions

musika = music
kanta = song / to sing
banda = band
tiket = ticket
pasundayag = show / presentation
entablado = stage

Meaning and usage notes

Use konsiyerto for musical concerts, whether by a band, singer, orchestra, or public event. For show in general, pasundayag is broader.

bandconcerteventmusicmusical performanceshowsinger
Example 1

Moadto mi sa konsiyerto karong gabii.

We are going to the concert tonight.

Example 2

Mahal ang tiket sa konsiyerto.

The concert ticket is expensive.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Pabilin

English

to remain; to stay; to keep onverb

Alternative meanings

To remain, stay, or keep on; to continue in a place, maintain a state, or let something stay the same.

Pronunciation

pah-BEE-lin

Root and affixes

From the root bilin, meaning to stay, remain, or leave. With pa-, pabilin means to remain or keep something in a condition.

Variants or conjugations

bilin = to stay, remain, or leave; nagpabilin = remained or stayed; nabilin = remaining or left

Related words and expressions

remain, remaining, stayed, continue, live/stay

Meaning and usage notes

Use pabilin for remaining in a state or place. For “living/staying in a house,” puyo may also fit depending on context.

continuekeep onmaintainremainstay
Example 1

Pabilin dinhi hangtod moabot ko.

Stay here until I arrive.

Example 2

Nagpabilin siyang kalmado.

He/She remained calm.

Found an error?