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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

taho

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English

report / account / to reportnoun / verb

Alternative meanings

A report, account, or statement that communicates information, results, or facts; also to report or recount.

Pronunciation

tah-HOH

Root and affixes

Root used for account, report, narration, or recounting.

Variants or conjugations

report, raport, tahoanan

Related words and expressions

news, information, document, narration, press

Meaning and usage notes

Taho can mean report or account. In the Philippines, taho is also a sweet tofu snack, but that is a different sense.

basicinformationreportwork
Example 1

Nagsulat siya og taho para sa trabaho.

He/She wrote a report for work.

Example 2

Itaho ang resulta sa miting.

Report the result of the meeting.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Tumoy

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English

end / tipnoun

Alternative meanings

end
tip
extremity
far end of something
terminal part, depending on context

Pronunciation

too-MOY

Root and affixes

Base form: tumoy. It is used for the end, tip, or final part of an object, road, rope, or surface.

Variants or conjugations

tumoy = end / tip
sa tumoy = at the end / on the tip
tumoy sa pisi = end of the rope
tumoy sa dalan = end of the road
kabo = corporal as a military rank, depending on borrowed usage
punta / promontoryo = cape in geography, depending on context

Related words and expressions

katapusan = ending / final part
punta = point / tip, common loanword
pisi = rope
dalan = road / way
ulo = head / top part
kilid = side / edge

Meaning and usage notes

Use tumoy for cabo when it means the end or tip of something. For a geographical cape, clarify with context such as punta or promontoryo. For the military rank corporal, kabo may appear as a loanword.

capeendextremitygeographyroadropetip
Example 1

Gunit-i ang tumoy sa pisi.

Hold the end of the rope.

Example 2

Naa siya sa tumoy sa dalan.

He/She is at the end of the road.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Posisyon

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English

positionNoun

Alternative meanings

position; location; place; posture; job role; point of view

Pronunciation

poh-sis-YON

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish posición and adapted into Cebuano/Bisaya as posisyon.

Variants or conjugations

postura; lokasyon; lugar; posisyon sa trabaho; posisyon sa lawas

Related words and expressions

place; work; posture; location; stance; point of view

Meaning and usage notes

Posisyon is broad. For physical location, lokasyon or lugar may also be used. For body posture, postura is more specific. For stance/opinion, baruganan or panglantaw may fit depending on context.

basic vocabularyjob rolelocationplacepoint of viewpositionposture
Example 1

Unsa ang imong posisyon sa lista?

What is your position on the list?

Example 2

Nindot ang iyang posisyon sa trabaho.

His/her position at work is good.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

kunhod

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English

to reduce / to decrease / to lessenverb

Alternative meanings

To make something smaller in amount, size, intensity, value, or degree; to decrease or lessen.

Pronunciation

KOON-hod

Root and affixes

Root used for reducing, decreasing, or becoming less.

Variants or conjugations

pagkunhod, kunhoran, mikunhod, nagkunhod

Related words and expressions

minus, subtract, deduct, lower, reduction

Meaning and usage notes

Kunhod is used for reducing or decreasing. Pagkunhod can mean reduction or decrease. Minus is also used for less or to reduce in common speech.

actionbasicquantityreduce
Example 1

Kinahanglan nato kunhoran ang gasto.

We need to reduce the expense.

Example 2

Mikunhod ang presyo karon.

The price decreased today.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Maminaw

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English

to listenverb

Alternative meanings

to listen
to pay attention
to hear intentionally
to heed
to listen to advice, depending on context

Pronunciation

mah-MEE-now

Root and affixes

Verbal form from the root paminaw, related to listening, hearing, and paying attention.

Variants or conjugations

paminaw = listening / to listen / imperative listen
maminaw = to listen / will listen
nagpaminaw = is listening or listened
gipaminaw = was listened to
paminawa = listen to it / listen

Related words and expressions

dungog = hear / hearing / reputation, depending on context
tingog = voice / sound
musika = music
tambag = advice
tubag = answer
istorya = story / conversation

Meaning and usage notes

Use maminaw when someone listens attentively. Paminaw can also work as a root, imperative, or noun related to listening or feeling, depending on context.

adviceattentionconversationhearlistenmusicsound
Example 1

Maminaw ko sa musika.

I will listen to music.

Example 2

Paminawa ang iyang tambag.

Listen to his/her advice.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Teksto

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English

textNoun

Alternative meanings

text; written words; written content; passage; reading material

Pronunciation

TEK-stoh

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish texto and adapted into Cebuano/Bisaya as teksto.

Variants or conjugations

texto; teks; teksto sa libro; teksto sa mensahe

Related words and expressions

read; writing; message; information; book; word

Meaning and usage notes

Teksto is used for written text or textual content. For a cellphone text message or SMS, teks may appear. For a letter or specific written note, sulat may fit better depending on context.

basic vocabularyeducationinformationmessagereadingtextwriting
Example 1

Basaha ang teksto sa panid.

Read the text on the page.

Example 2

Mubo ra ang teksto sa mensahe.

The text of the message is short.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

kalampusan

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English

success / achievement / victorynoun

Alternative meanings

A favorable result, achieved goal, or victory after effort, work, or an attempt.

Pronunciation

kah-lam-POO-sahn

Root and affixes

From lampos, to succeed or achieve, with ka- -an forming a noun of result or state.

Variants or conjugations

kalamposan, kalampos, malampuson

Related words and expressions

succeed, victory, achievement, goal, work

Meaning and usage notes

Kalampusan is used for success, achievement, prosperity, or victory. Malampuson means successful.

achievementbasicsuccesswork
Example 1

Nakab-ot niya ang kalampusan.

He/She achieved success.

Example 2

Ang kalampusan nagkinahanglan og paningkamot.

Success requires effort.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Mangutana

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English

to ask / to inquireverb

Alternative meanings

to ask
to ask a question
to inquire
to ask for information
to question, depending on context

Pronunciation

mahn-goo-TAH-nah

Root and affixes

Verbal form related to pangutana, meaning question. The root also appears in forms such as nangutana, pangutan-a, and gipangutana.

Variants or conjugations

pangutana = question / issue
mangutana = to ask / will ask
nangutana = asked or is asking
pangutan-a = ask him/her / ask someone
gipangutana = was asked / was questioned

Related words and expressions

tubag = answer / to answer
unsa = what
kinsa = who
asa = where
ngano = why
kanus-a = when

Meaning and usage notes

Use mangutana when someone is going to ask or wants to request information. Use pangutana as the noun question: Naay pangutana? means Is there a question?

answeraskconversationdoubtinformationinquirequestion
Example 1

Mangutana ko sa maestro.

I will ask the teacher.

Example 2

Pangutan-a siya kung asa siya moadto.

Ask him/her where he/she is going.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

kahibalo

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English

knowledge / to knownoun / verb

Alternative meanings

Knowledge, information, understanding, or the ability to know something or know how to do something.

Pronunciation

kah-hee-bah-LOH

Root and affixes

From hibalo, to know, with the prefix ka- forming nouns or states.

Variants or conjugations

kahibawo, kahibaw, kaybaw, kibaw

Related words and expressions

know, wisdom, education, understanding, know how

Meaning and usage notes

Kahibalo can be knowledge as a noun or to know as a verb. Kamao is more commonly used for knowing how to do a skill.

basiceducationknowknowledge
Example 1

Importante ang kahibalo sa kinabuhi.

Knowledge is important in life.

Example 2

Kahibalo ko sa tubag.

I know the answer.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Dili usab

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English

neither; not either; also notadverb / negative expression

Alternative meanings

An expression that adds a negative idea to a previous statement. It means neither, not either, or also not.

Pronunciation

DEE-lee OO-sab

Root and affixes

Formed from dili, no or not, and usab, also, again, or as well.

Variants or conjugations

dili pud; dili sab; dili sad

Related words and expressions

dili; usab; pud; sab; wala

Meaning and usage notes

Dili usab sounds clearer or more formal. Dili pud, dili sab, and dili sad are very common in conversation.

basic vocabularyconnectorsnegationneithernot either
Example 1

Dili usab ko moadto.

I am not going either.

Example 2

Dili pud siya ganahan ana.

He/She does not like that either.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Hustisya

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English

justiceNoun

Alternative meanings

justice; fairness; just treatment; proper application of the law; pursuit of what is right

Pronunciation

hoos-TEES-yah

Root and affixes

Borrowed from Spanish justicia and adapted into Cebuano/Bisaya as hustisya.

Variants or conjugations

inhustisya; hustisyero; makatarungan; kaangayan

Related words and expressions

law; judge; court; rights; comply; injustice

Meaning and usage notes

Hustisya is used in both legal and moral senses. For injustice, use inhustisya. For just or reasonable, makatarungan or angay may appear depending on context.

basic vocabularyfairnessgovernmentjusticelawrightssociety
Example 1

Nangayo sila og hustisya.

They asked for justice.

Example 2

Importante ang hustisya sa matag tawo.

Justice is important for every person.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

pagtubo

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English

growth / developmentnoun

Alternative meanings

The process of growing, becoming larger, or increasing in size, amount, strength, or importance.

Pronunciation

pag-TOO-boh

Root and affixes

From tubo, to grow or increase; pag- forms an action or process noun.

Variants or conjugations

tubo, pagtubò, pagdako, pag-uswag

Related words and expressions

big, increase, development, progress, strength

Meaning and usage notes

Pagtubo is physical, natural, or quantitative growth. For social or economic progress/development, pag-uswag or paglambo may fit better.

basicdevelopmentgrowthquantity
Example 1

Paspas ang pagtubo sa tanom.

The growth of the plant is fast.

Example 2

Importante ang pagtubo sa negosyo.

Business growth is important.

Found an error?