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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

alkalde

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English

mayornoun

Alternative meanings

The main authority of a municipality or city; the person who leads the local government.

Pronunciation

ahl-KAHL-deh

Root and affixes

Borrowed word used as a noun for a local public office.

Variants or conjugations

alkalde; mayor

Related words and expressions

munisipyo = municipality; gobyerno = government; pangulo = leader / head

Meaning and usage notes

“Alkalde” is common for mayor. In bilingual or formal contexts, “mayor” may also appear.

governmentmayormunicipalitynoun
Example 1

Ang alkalde mitabang sa komunidad.

The mayor helped the community.

Example 2

Bag-o ang alkalde sa lungsod.

The city mayor is new.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Gigikanan

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English

origin; source; provenancenoun

Alternative meanings

The place, cause, root, or source from which something comes, begins, or originates. It can refer to the origin of a person, idea, problem, object, or situation.

Pronunciation

gee-gee-KA-nan

Root and affixes

From gikan, to come from or originate from, with a nominal formation indicating the place or source of origin.

Variants or conjugations

sinugdanan; kagikan; punuan; tinubdan

Related words and expressions

from; beginning; source; family; cause

Meaning and usage notes

Gigikanan emphasizes provenance or source. Sinugdanan emphasizes beginning or start. Kagikan can refer to family origin, lineage, or extraction.

causeoriginprovenancerootsource
Example 1

Asa ang imong gigikanan?

Where is your origin from?

Example 2

Kinahanglan nato mahibaloan ang gigikanan sa problema.

We need to know the source of the problem.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

ipadayag

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English

to reveal; to disclose; to make knownverb

Alternative meanings

To make something visible, public, or known when it was hidden, secret, or unknown.

Pronunciation

ee-pah-DAH-yahg

Root and affixes

Related to dayag, meaning clear, visible, or manifest. Ipa- marks causing something to be shown or made known.

Variants or conjugations

ipadayag; gipadayag; pagpadayag

Related words and expressions

sekreto = secret; impormasyon = information; ipakita = to show

Meaning and usage notes

“Ipadayag” is used for revealing information, a truth, a secret, or something that was not visible before. For developing a photo in the old chemical sense, another expression may be needed.

informationrevealsecretverb
Example 1

Ipadayag niya ang tinuod.

He/She will reveal the truth.

Example 2

Wala pa nila gipadayag ang detalye.

They have not revealed the details yet.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Pasalig

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English

commitment / guaranteenoun / verb

Alternative meanings

commitment
promise
guarantee
assurance
pledge
responsibility taken on

Pronunciation

pah-SAH-lig

Root and affixes

Related to “salig,” which expresses trusting, relying on someone, entrusting, or committing. Pasalig can work as commitment, guarantee, or reassurance.

Variants or conjugations

salig = to trust / rely / entrust
saad = promise / vow
misaad = promised
kasabotan = agreement
kompromiso = commitment, borrowed form

Related words and expressions

saad = promise
salig = trust / to trust
kasabotan = agreement
katungdanan = responsibility / duty
minyo = to marry / married

Meaning and usage notes

Use pasalig for commitment, guarantee, assurance, or a serious promise. For engagement before marriage, Cebuano may use constructions with saad or kasabotan depending on context; if marriage is involved, specify it.

agreementassurancecommitmentguaranteepledgepromiseresponsibilitytrust
Example 1

Dako ang iyang pasalig sa trabaho.

His/Her commitment to the work is strong.

Example 2

Nihatag siya og pasalig nga motabang.

He/She gave a commitment to help.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Republika

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English

republicnoun

Alternative meanings

Republic; a form of government in which public power does not belong to a monarchy and leaders are usually chosen or represented through civic institutions.

Pronunciation

reh-POOB-lee-kah

Root and affixes

A loanword adapted from Spanish república. In Cebuano it is used as a noun for the political system or for naming countries with that form of government.

Variants or conjugations

Republika sa Pilipinas = Republic of the Philippines; estado = state or country; gobyerno = government

Related words and expressions

government, state, nation, politics, law

Meaning and usage notes

Use republika for a republic as a form of government or in official country names. In general country contexts, nasod or estado may sound more natural.

countrygovernmentpoliticsrepublicstate
Example 1

Ang Pilipinas usa ka republika.

The Philippines is a republic.

Example 2

Ang republika adunay kaugalingong gobyerno.

The republic has its own government.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kalikopanhon

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English

environmentaladjective

Alternative meanings

environmental
related to the environment
ecological, depending on context
related to surroundings
related to nature

Pronunciation

kah-lee-koh-PAHN-hohn

Root and affixes

From kalikopan, meaning environment, surroundings, or atmosphere. Kalikopanhon works as an adjective for something environmental.

Variants or conjugations

kalikopanhon = environmental
makakalikopan = environmental / related to the environment
kalikopan = environment / surroundings
kinaiyahan = nature / natural environment
epekto sa kinaiyahan = environmental effect, depending on context

Related words and expressions

kalikopan = environment / surroundings
kinaiyahan = nature
panahon = weather / time
kadaot = damage
polusyon = pollution
proteksyon = protection

Meaning and usage notes

Use kalikopanhon for environmental topics, environmental impact, environmental issues, or matters related to the surroundings. For nature as the natural world, kinaiyahan is also common.

climateecologicalenvironmentenvironmentalnaturepollutionsurroundings
Example 1

Importante ang kalikopanhon nga proteksyon.

Environmental protection is important.

Example 2

Gihisgutan nila ang kalikopanhon nga kadaot.

They discussed the environmental damage.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kilometro

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English

kilometer; kilometre; unit of distance equal to 1,000 metersnoun / unit of measurement

Alternative meanings

Kilometro means kilometer or kilometre. It is a metric unit of distance equal to 1,000 meters. It is used for travel, roads, maps, transportation, distances, exercise, and measurements.

Pronunciation

kee-loh-MET-roh

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish kilómetro and adapted in Cebuano/Bisaya as kilometro. Common plural: kilometros. International abbreviation: km.

Variants or conjugations

kilometro; kilometros; kilómetro; kilómetros; km; usa ka kilometro; pila ka kilometro

Related words and expressions

distance; meter; measurement; road; travel; transportation; map; route

Meaning and usage notes

In everyday writing, it often appears without an accent as kilometro. To ask distance, say Pila ka kilometro? = How many kilometers?

distancekilometerkilometremeasurementmetertransportationtravel
Example 1

Lima ka kilometro ang gilay-on.

The distance is five kilometers.

Example 2

Pila ka kilometro gikan diri?

How many kilometers is it from here?

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

gasto

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English

expense; costnoun

Alternative meanings

Money that is used or paid for something. It can refer to a cost, payment, consumption, or money going out.

Pronunciation

GAHS-toh

Root and affixes

Borrowed word used as a noun. It is also related to verb forms like “mogasto,” to spend.

Variants or conjugations

gasto; galastuhan

Related words and expressions

bayad = payment; presyo = price; kwarta = money; mogasto = to spend

Meaning and usage notes

“Gasto” is common for expense or cost. For plural expenses or regular expenses, “galastuhan” may also appear.

costexpensemoneynoun
Example 1

Dako kaayo ang gasto karon.

Today's expense is very big.

Example 2

Kinahanglan nato kontrolon ang gasto.

We need to control the expense.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kasilyas

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English

toilet; restroom; bathroomnoun

Alternative meanings

Toilet, restroom, or bathroom; used for the toilet room, toilet fixture, or place for relieving oneself.

Pronunciation

kah-SEEL-yahs

Root and affixes

A loanword related to Spanish casillas. In Cebuano it works as a noun and can also be used as a verb meaning to use the toilet.

Variants or conjugations

banyo = bathroom; CR = comfort room; kubeta = toilet fixture or latrine; sanitasyon = sanitation or sanitary hygiene

Related words and expressions

bathroom, comfort room, toilet, sanitation, clean

Meaning and usage notes

Use kasilyas for sanitary as toilet or restroom. If sanitary means related to hygiene or public health, sanitasyon or sanitary may fit better depending on the phrase.

bathroomhomerestroomsanitationtoilet
Example 1

Asa ang kasilyas?

Where is the restroom?

Example 2

Limpyo ang kasilyas sa balay.

The bathroom in the house is clean.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Pasundayag

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English

presentation / exhibitionnoun

Alternative meanings

presentation
exhibition
show
performance
spectacle
public demonstration

Pronunciation

pah-soon-DAH-yahg

Root and affixes

Related root: sundayag = to show or display. Pasundayag works as an exhibition, presentation, performance, spectacle, or show before an audience.

Variants or conjugations

pasundayag = exhibition / show / presentation
pagpasundayag = act of presenting or displaying
magpasundayag = to present / perform
nagpasundayag = presented / performed
gipasundayag = was presented / was shown
presentasyon = presentation, borrowed form

Related words and expressions

presentasyon = presentation
entablado = stage
sayaw = dance
kanta = song
dula = play / game
kalihokan = event / activity
akting = theatrical acting

Meaning and usage notes

Use pasundayag for a school presentation, cultural presentation, show, public exhibition, or performance. If you mean exposure to danger, sun, or illness, Cebuano usually uses a different construction depending on context.

artdisplayexhibitionperformancepresentationschool presentationshowspectacle
Example 1

Nindot kaayo ang ilang pasundayag kagabii.

Their presentation last night was very good.

Example 2

Daghan ang mitan-aw sa pasundayag sa eskwelahan.

Many people watched the presentation at the school.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Presyo

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English

cost; price; value; amount; expense depending on contextnoun

Alternative meanings

Presyo means price or cost, especially the amount of money needed to buy a product or service. If cost means expense, expenditure, or money spent, gasto is a more exact related word. Bili can also refer to value or price depending on context.

Pronunciation

PRES-yoh

Root and affixes

Adapted loanword from Spanish precio. Related forms: presyohan = to price or set a price; papresyo = to ask for a price or quotation. Related: gasto = cost/expense; bili = value/price.

Variants or conjugations

mga presyo; presyohan; papresyo; gasto; gugol; bili; tagpila; pila ang presyo

Related words and expressions

cost; price; expense; value; purchase; money; market; product; service; payment

Meaning and usage notes

Use presyo for the price of something being bought or sold. Use gasto when talking about total cost, expense, outlay, or required spending. To ask “how much does it cost?”, use Tagpila? or Pila ang presyo?

amountcostexpensemoneypricepurchasevalue
Example 1

Pila ang presyo niini?

What is the price/cost of this?

Example 2

Dako ang gasto sa proyekto.

The project cost is high.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Tabon

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English

to coververb / noun

Alternative meanings

to cover
to cover up
to conceal
to protect with a covering
to put something over
cover or lid, depending on context

Pronunciation

TAH-bohn

Root and affixes

Root: tabon = to cover, cover up, or a cover. With affixes it forms words such as tabuni, tabunan, gitabonan, and pagtabon.

Variants or conjugations

tabon = cover / lid / to cover
tabuni = cover it
tabunan = to cover something
gitabonan = was covered
pagtabon = act of covering
tabontabon = repeated or surface covering

Related words and expressions

takop = lid / close
tago = hide
lantad = exposed / visible
panalipod = protection
bukhad = open / spread, depending on context

Meaning and usage notes

Use tabon to cover or put something over a physical thing, such as food, a body part, a surface, or an object. It can also mean to conceal or cover up mistakes depending on context.

concealcovercover upcoveringlidobjectprotect
Example 1

Tabuni ang pagkaon aron dili langawon.

Cover the food so flies do not get on it.

Example 2

Gitabonan niya ang libro sa papel.

He/She covered the book with paper.

Found an error?