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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Motampo

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English

to contribute; to chip in; to take partverb

Alternative meanings

To contribute, chip in, or take part by giving help, money, ideas, work, or content for a shared purpose.

Pronunciation

moh-TAHM-poh

Root and affixes

Related to tampo/tampu, which can express contributing, joining in, or putting something together with others.

Variants or conjugations

tampo = contribution or share; motampo = to contribute; makaamot = to be able to contribute or chip in

Related words and expressions

share, contribution, help, cooperate, contribution

Meaning and usage notes

Use motampo when someone contributes to a cause, event, group, project, or publication. For contributing money or sharing expenses, makaamot can also be used.

chip incontributecooperatehelpparticipate
Example 1

Gusto ko motampo sa proyekto.

I want to contribute to the project.

Example 2

Motampo sila og pagkaon para sa salo-salo.

They will contribute food for the gathering.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kauban

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English

companion / colleaguenoun

Alternative meanings

companion
colleague
coworker
partner
mate
associate

Pronunciation

kah-OO-bahn

Root and affixes

Related to “uban,” which can express company, accompanying someone, being with someone, or joining another person.

Variants or conjugations

uban = with / accompany / other
kaubang = fellow- before another word
kauban sa trabaho = coworker / workmate
kauban sa klase = classmate
kauban sa kinabuhi = life partner

Related words and expressions

higala = friend
trabaho = work / job
klase = class
kapikas = partner / spouse
uban = with

Meaning and usage notes

Kauban is flexible. It can mean companion, colleague, escort, or partner depending on context. For coworker, say “kauban sa trabaho.” For classmate, say “kauban sa klase.”

associateclassmatecolleaguecompanioncoworkerfriendmatepartner
Example 1

Siya akong kauban sa trabaho.

He/She is my coworker.

Example 2

Naglakaw ko uban sa akong kauban.

I walked with my companion.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

duol

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English

near / closeadverb / adjective

Alternative meanings

At a short distance from a person, place, or thing; it can also mean nearby or close.

Pronunciation

DOO-ohl

Root and affixes

Bisaya distance word. It can be used as an adverb or adjective depending on the sentence.

Variants or conjugations

duol-duol; kaduol

Related words and expressions

layo = far`nduol sa = near to / close to`nkaduol = nearness / closeness`nkoral = fence

Meaning and usage notes

This entry covers “cerca” as proximity. For “cerca” meaning fence, use “koral”.

closedistancenearproximity
Example 1

Duol ra ang tindahan.

The store is nearby.

Example 2

Nagpuyo ko duol sa eskwelahan.

I live near the school.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

amot

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English

to contribute; contributionverb / noun

Alternative meanings

To give, share, or contribute something such as money, help, ideas, effort, or resources for a common purpose.

Pronunciation

AH-moht

Root and affixes

Root: amot. It can be used as contribution, and with affixes to express the action of contributing.

Variants or conjugations

amot; moamot; pag-amot; kontribusyon

Related words and expressions

tabang = help; bahin = part; hatag = to give; kontribusyon = contribution

Meaning and usage notes

“Amot” is natural for to contribute, especially when someone gives a share for something shared. “Kontribusyon” is also understood in formal contexts.

contributecontributionhelpverb
Example 1

Moamot ko para sa proyekto.

I will contribute to the project.

Example 2

Dako ang iyang amot sa grupo.

His/Her contribution to the group was big.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kadaot

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English

damage / harmnoun

Alternative meanings

damage
harm
injury
deterioration
negative effect
physical or material damage

Pronunciation

kah-DAH-oht

Root and affixes

From the root daot, which can mean to damage, go bad, be in bad condition, or deteriorate. Kadaot names the damage or harm.

Variants or conjugations

kadaot = damage / harm
daot = to damage / spoiled / thin, depending on context
nagdaot = damaging / ill, depending on context
daoton = defective / damage / badmouth, depending on context
kadaotan = evil / harm, depending on context

Related words and expressions

sakit = pain / illness
samad = wound
depekto = defect
guba = broken / destroy
peligro = danger
alaot = bad luck / misfortune

Meaning and usage notes

Use kadaot for physical, material, moral, or abstract damage. If you mean the verb to damage, the root is daot. For a concrete physical wound, samad may be more specific.

damagedeteriorationharmhealthimpactinjurylaw
Example 1

Dako ang kadaot sa balay human sa bagyo.

The damage to the house was great after the typhoon.

Example 2

Ang sobra nga adlaw makahatag ug kadaot sa panit.

Too much sun can cause damage to the skin.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Magbabasa

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English

reader; person who readsnoun

Alternative meanings

Reader; a person who reads books, texts, news, or other written material for pleasure, study, work, or understanding.

Pronunciation

mag-bah-BAH-sah

Root and affixes

From basa, meaning to read. With the mag- pattern and internal reduplication, it forms magbabasa: reader or person who reads.

Variants or conjugations

basa = to read; tigbasa = reader or one who reads; magbasa = to read

Related words and expressions

read, book, text, news, student

Meaning and usage notes

Use magbabasa for a person who reads. For a news reader, you can say magbabasa sa balita.

booksreadreaderreadingtext
Example 1

Maayo siya nga magbabasa.

He/She is a good reader.

Example 2

Ang magbabasa nakasabot sa teksto.

The reader understood the text.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Aprobar

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English

to approve; to authorize; to pass depending on contextverb

Alternative meanings

Aprobar means to approve, authorize, or give official approval to a decision, plan, law, budget, request, or proposal. If the meaning is to pass an exam, test, screening, or requirement, pasar is the better related word.

Pronunciation

ah-proh-BAR

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish aprobar and used in Cebuano/Bisaya. Related form: aproba. For exams or tests: pasar, mipasar, pasádu.

Variants or conjugations

aproba; aprobar; giaprobahan; aprobahan; pag-aprobar; pasar; mipasar; pasádu; uyon

Related words and expressions

approve; authorize; permission; approval; proposal; law; budget; exam; pass

Meaning and usage notes

Use aprobar for official or institutional approval. Use pasar for passing an exam or satisfying a requirement. Uyon can mean to agree, but it does not always replace formal approval.

approvalapproveauthorizeexamlawpasspermission
Example 1

Giaprobahan sa konseho ang plano.

The council approved the plan.

Example 2

Mipasar siya sa exam.

He/She passed the exam.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

kapildihan

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English

loss; defeatnoun

Alternative meanings

The result of losing something, failing in a competition, or suffering a defeat. It can refer to loss as a negative outcome.

Pronunciation

kah-peel-DEE-hahn

Root and affixes

Related to pildi, meaning to lose or be defeated. Ka- and -han form a noun related to the condition or result.

Variants or conjugations

kapildihan; pildi; pagkawala

Related words and expressions

pildi = to lose / defeated; nawala = got lost / disappeared; kadaot = damage / harm

Meaning and usage notes

“Kapildihan” fits loss as defeat or negative outcome. For the loss of an object or disappearance, “pagkawala” or a phrase with “nawala” may be better.

defeatlossnounresult
Example 1

Dako ang ilang kapildihan sa duwa.

Their loss in the game was big.

Example 2

Lisod dawaton ang kapildihan.

It is hard to accept the loss.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Katapusan

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English

end / final / finallynoun / adjective / phrase adverb

Alternative meanings

end
ending
conclusion
termination
final part
finally
in the end
lastly

Pronunciation

kah-tah-POO-sahn

Root and affixes

Built around the idea of finishing or reaching the end. It is used as a noun for end/conclusion, as an adjective for final or last, and in the phrase “sa katapusan” for finally or in the end.

Variants or conjugations

kataposan = spelling variant
sa katapusan = finally / in the end / lastly
katapusang = last / final before a noun
human = finish / done / after
matapos = to end or conclude

Related words and expressions

human = finish or after
sugod = beginning
padayon = continue
ulahi = last or late
tiwas = finish / done

Meaning and usage notes

Use “sa katapusan” to say finally, in the end, lastly, or in conclusion. Use “katapusan” by itself for the end or final part of something.

conclusionendendingfinalfinallyin the endlastlyterminationtime
Example 1

Niduol na ang katapusan sa tuig.

The end of the year is approaching.

Example 2

Sa katapusan, nasabtan nako.

Finally, I understood it.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Ipakita

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English

to expose / to showverb

Alternative meanings

to expose
to show
to present
to display
to reveal
to make visible
to demonstrate

Pronunciation

ee-pah-KEE-tah

Root and affixes

From the root kita, to see; with ipa- to indicate making someone see, showing, exposing, or presenting something.

Variants or conjugations

ipakita = to expose / to show / to present
pakita = show
magpakita = to show / to appear
gipakita = was shown / was exposed
pagpakita = act of showing
mag-presentar / mopresentar = to give a presentation, modern form

Related words and expressions

presentar = to present / expose
pasundayag = show / presentation
padayag = to manifest / declare
ibutyag = to reveal / expose something hidden
lantad = exposed / visible
ebidensya = evidence

Meaning and usage notes

Use ipakita for expose in the sense of showing, displaying, making visible, or presenting something. For giving a class presentation, mag-presentar or mopresentar is also heard. For revealing something hidden, ibutyag may be more precise.

classdemonstratedisplayexposepresentrevealshow
Example 1

Ipakita nako ang akong proyekto sa klase.

I will present my project in class.

Example 2

Gipakita niya ang ebidensya.

He/She showed the evidence.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Rehistro

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English

record; register; registrationnoun / verb

Alternative meanings

Record, registration, or official entry; it can also be used as a verb meaning to register, enroll, or enter information in a list, system, or document.

Pronunciation

reh-HIS-troh

Root and affixes

Loanword from Spanish registro. It can work as a noun for record/registration and as a verbal base for to register.

Variants or conjugations

pagrehistro = registration as an action; rehistrado = registered; talaan = list or record

Related words and expressions

list, record, data, document, inscription

Meaning and usage notes

Use rehistro for record or registering in administrative, school, technical, or data contexts. For a simple list, talaan or lista may sound more natural.

datalistrecordregisterregistration
Example 1

Naa sa rehistro ang imong ngalan.

Your name is in the record.

Example 2

Kinahanglan ka nga magrehistro una.

You need to register first.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

ahente

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English

agent; representativenoun

Alternative meanings

A person who represents, manages, or acts on behalf of another person, company, or institution. It can refer to a sales, insurance, travel, real estate, or service agent.

Pronunciation

ah-HEN-teh

Root and affixes

Borrowed word used as a noun for a person with a representative or management role.

Variants or conjugations

ahente; agente

Related words and expressions

representante = representative; tigbaligya = seller; serbisyo = service

Meaning and usage notes

“Ahente” is common for agent in sales, insurance, travel, or business contexts. For a police agent, “polis” or a more specific expression may fit better.

agentbusinessnounrepresentativework
Example 1

Nangutana ko sa ahente bahin sa balay.

I asked the agent about the house.

Example 2

Siya ang ahente sa insurance.

He/She is an insurance agent.

Found an error?