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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Tubig

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English

waternoun

Alternative meanings

water
liquid
drinking water
water for drinking or use

Pronunciation

TOO-big

Root and affixes

Base form: tubig. It is used for water in general, drinking water, and liquids depending on context.

Variants or conjugations

mga tubig = waters or kinds of water, uncommon
tubig sa butong = young coconut water
tubigi = add water / water it
patubig = irrigation system
panubig = bring or serve water

Related words and expressions

inom = drink
ulan = rain
suba = river
dagát = sea
linaw = lake

Meaning and usage notes

“Tubig” is the everyday word for water. It can also refer to liquid more broadly depending on context.

beveragedrinkliquidnaturewaterweather
Example 1

Palihug hatagi ko og tubig.

Please give me water.

Example 2

Bugnaw kaayo ang tubig.

The water is very cold.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Pangita

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English

to search; to look forverb

Alternative meanings

To search; to look for something or someone; to try to find something.

Pronunciation

pahng-GEE-tah

Root and affixes

Root: pangita. Common forms: mangita, nangita, pangitaa, gipangita.

Variants or conjugations

mangita; nangita; pangitaa; gipangita; pagpangita

Related words and expressions

kita; sulay; pangutana; place; person

Meaning and usage notes

Pangita is used for looking for objects, people, work, information, or answers. For “to find” as the result, makita or nakit-an may fit depending on context.

answerlookto findto look forto searchverbwork
Example 1

Nangita ko sa akong telepono.

I am looking for my phone.

Example 2

Pangitaa ang tubag.

Look for the answer.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Lahi

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English

differentadjective / verb

Alternative meanings

different
distinct
diverse
dissimilar
to be different

Pronunciation

LAH-hee

Root and affixes

Base form: lahi. As an adjective it means different or distinct; it can also work verbally with the sense of being different or separate.

Variants or conjugations

lahì = different / distinct
lahì-lahì = of different kinds
nagkalahi = differ or are different
palahi = do something different from the usual
lain = another, different, or strange depending on context

Related words and expressions

lain = another or different
lain-lain = various or diverse
palahi = differ / set apart
pareho = same
usa = one / same depending on context

Meaning and usage notes

“Lahi” is a clear form for different. “Lain” can also mean different, but it can carry shades of another, strange, odd, or even bad depending on the sentence.

comparisondescriptiondifferentdistinctdiverseother
Example 1

Lahi kini sa akong gihunahuna.

This is different from what I thought.

Example 2

Nagkalahi ang ilang opinyon.

Their opinions are different.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Iapil

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English

includeverb

Alternative meanings

include
add
put into a group
consider as part
add to a list

Pronunciation

ee-AH-peel

Root and affixes

Root: apil. With i-, “iapil” is used to include or add something as part of a group, list, or action.

Variants or conjugations

apil = included / participate / join
apila = include it or join
naapil = included
muapil = participate or join
dili apil = not included
apil-apil = meddle or insert oneself too much

Related words and expressions

lista = list
grupo = group
uban = with / together with
labot = included or involved
kuwenta = account or calculation

Meaning and usage notes

Use “iapil” when you want to include something: a person in a list, data in a report, or an item in a group. “Apil” can also mean to participate or be included.

addgroupincludejoinlistparticipate
Example 1

Iapil siya sa lista.

Include him/her on the list.

Example 2

Apil ba ang pagkaon sa bayad?

Is the food included in the payment?

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Butang

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English

thing; object; to putnoun / verb

Alternative meanings

Thing or object. As a verb, it can also mean to put or place something.

Pronunciation

BOO-tahng

Root and affixes

Root: butang. Common verb forms: ibutang, gibutang, magbutang.

Variants or conjugations

ibutang; gibutang; magbutang; mga butang

Related words and expressions

gamit; object; sulod; lugar; ibutang

Meaning and usage notes

As a noun, butang means thing or object. As a verb, it means to put or place, so it can appear with two different meanings.

basic wordsitemnounobjectthingto placeto put
Example 1

Unsa ni nga butang?

What thing is this?

Example 2

Daghan kog mga butang sa balay.

I have many things at home.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Anaa

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English

to exist; there is; to be presentverb / existence word

Alternative meanings

To exist; there is/there are; to be present in a place or situation.

Pronunciation

ah-NAH-ah

Root and affixes

Common form related to naa, used for existence or presence.

Variants or conjugations

naa; anaa; wala

Related words and expressions

naa; wala; didto; dinhi; presence

Meaning and usage notes

Anaa can sound more formal or complete; naa is very common in everyday speech. For non-existence, wala is used.

basic wordsbeingpresencestatethere isto be presentto exist
Example 1

Anaa ang tubag dinhi.

The answer exists/is here.

Example 2

Naa kay oras?

Do you have time? / Is there time?

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Magdula

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English

playverb

Alternative meanings

play
play a game
play a sport
have fun playing

Pronunciation

mag-DOO-lah

Root and affixes

Root: dula. With the prefix mag-, “magdula” expresses the action of playing.

Variants or conjugations

dula = game / play
nagdula = played or is playing
modula / mudula = will play or is going to play
dulaan = toy or instrument depending on context
kadula = playmate

Related words and expressions

dula = game
daog = win
pildi = lose
lingaw = fun
bata = child

Meaning and usage notes

Use “magdula” to say to play in general. If you mean the game as a thing or activity, use “dula”.

activitychildrenfungameplaysport
Example 1

Ganahan ko magdula.

I like to play.

Example 2

Magdula ta unya.

Let us play later.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Direktor

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English

director; manager; principalnoun

Alternative meanings

Director; a person who leads, manages, or is in charge of a school, company, institution, project, or production.

Pronunciation

dee-REK-tor

Root and affixes

Established loanword from Spanish/English “director,” adapted as direktor.

Variants or conjugations

direktora; direktor sa eskwelahan; direktor sa kompanya

Related words and expressions

lider; pangulo; manedyer; amo; eskwelahan; kompanya

Meaning and usage notes

Direktor is used in modern contexts. For “school director/principal,” you can say direktor sa eskwelahan. For film or theater, direktor is also used.

basic wordscompanydirectormanagerprincipalprojectschool
Example 1

Ang direktor sa eskwelahan miabot sayo.

The school director arrived early.

Example 2

Siya ang direktor sa proyekto.

He/She is the director of the project.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Oras

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English

hour / timenoun

Alternative meanings

hour
specific time
time of day
time, depending on context

Pronunciation

OH-rahs

Root and affixes

Base form: oras. It is used for an hour, a schedule, or a specific time of day.

Variants or conjugations

oras = hour / specific time
unsa oras = what time
sa alas tres = at three o clock
pila na ang oras = what time is it
panahon = time in general, period, or weather

Related words and expressions

time/period
moment/occasion
day
now
when
week

Meaning and usage notes

“Oras” is used for hour or a concrete time. For time in general, weather, or a period, “panahon” is usually used.

basic wordscalendarclockhourmomentscheduletime
Example 1

Unsa na oras?

What time is it?

Example 2

Magkita ta sa alas dos.

We will meet at two o clock.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Hilisgutan

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English

topic; subject; themenoun

Alternative meanings

Topic; subject; theme; something that is talked about, written about, or dealt with.

Pronunciation

hee-lis-GOO-tahn

Root and affixes

Related to hisgot, meaning to talk about or mention a matter.

Variants or conjugations

hisgot; gihisgutan; paghisgot

Related words and expressions

istorya; punto; ideya; sulod

Meaning and usage notes

Hilisgutan works well for a conversation topic, class topic, text topic, or matter being discussed. “Tema” may also appear as a loanword in modern contexts, but hilisgutan is more native-sounding.

basic wordsclassconversationideasubjectthemetopic
Example 1

Unsa ang atong hilisgutan karon?

What is our topic today?

Example 2

Lisod ang hilisgutan sa klase.

The class topic is difficult.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Numero

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English

numbernoun

Alternative meanings

number
numeral
digit
figure
numeric value

Pronunciation

NOO-meh-roh

Root and affixes

Adapted loanword from Spanish “número”. It is used for numbers, digits, phone numbers, positions, or numeric values.

Variants or conjugations

mga numero = numbers
numero sa telepono = phone number
ihap = count, tally, or to count
ipha / ihapa = count it
maihap = countable

Related words and expressions

ihap = count or counting
kuwenta = calculation or account
usa = one
duha = two
gidaghanon = quantity

Meaning and usage notes

For “number” as a symbol, digit, or phone number, “numero” fits well. For the act of counting or the result of a tally, use “ihap”.

countdigitfigurenumbernumeralquantity
Example 1

Unsa ang imong numero sa telepono?

What is your phone number?

Example 2

Isulat ang numero sa papel.

Write the number on the paper.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kaayo

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English

so; very; muchadverb / intensifier

Alternative meanings

So; very; much. Used to intensify adjectives, emotions, or states.

Pronunciation

kah-AH-yoh

Root and affixes

Common intensifier form in Cebuano/Bisaya.

Variants or conjugations

kaayo ka; kaayong

Related words and expressions

labihan; sobra; ka; gyud

Meaning and usage notes

Kaayo covers “so” when used as an intensifier, as in “so beautiful.” For “as... as...” comparisons, Cebuano often uses a structure like sama ka... sa..., depending on the phrase.

adverbbasic wordsintensifiermuchqualitysovery
Example 1

Nindot kaayo.

It is very beautiful / It is so beautiful.

Example 2

Nalipay kaayo ko.

I am very happy / I am so happy.

Found an error?