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Vocabulary category: Basic Vocabulary

Essential words and units for beginning to learn Bisaya.

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Binuhat

English

work / creationnoun

Alternative meanings

workncompleted workncreationnthing madenresult of an action

Pronunciation

bee-NOO-haht

Root and affixes

Related to the root buhat, to do or make.

Variants or conjugations

buhat = to do / work / actionnobra = borrowed form that may also be heard depending on contextntrabaho = work, job, or labor-related work

Related words and expressions

buhat = to do / workntrabaho = work / jobnarte = artnlarawan = imagensulat = writing

Meaning and usage notes

Binuhat works for a work or thing that has been made. For an artistic or literary work, phrases like binuhat sa arte or the borrowed form obra may also be used depending on context. If obra means construction or labor work, it may be closer to trabaho.

artbasic wordscompleted workcreationresultwork
Example 1

Kini ang iyang binuhat.

This is his or her work.

Example 2

Nindot ang binuhat sa artista.

The work of the artist is beautiful.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Bahin

English

partnoun

Alternative meanings

partnsectionnportionndivision of somethingnabout or concerning, in the expression bahin sa

Pronunciation

BAH-hin

Root and affixes

Base form: bahin.

Variants or conjugations

kabahin = related to / part ofnbahina = divide or share outnbahin sa = about / concerning / part ofnusa ka bahin = one part

Related words and expressions

kabahinnbahinanpiecenhalfnincludednabout

Meaning and usage notes

It can also mean “about” or “concerning”, as in “bahin sa...” = “about...”.

basic wordsconceptdivisionpartportionsection
Example 1

Kini usa ka bahin sa libro.

This is a part of the book.

Example 2

Bahin kini sa plano.

This is part of the plan.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Puyo

English

to live / to resideverb / noun

Alternative meanings

to live in a placento residento dwellnto stay or remain

Pronunciation

POO-yoh

Root and affixes

Root: puyo. It expresses living, residing, staying, or remaining in a place.

Variants or conjugations

mopuyo = will live / is going to livennagpuyo = is living / livednnipuyo = lived / stayednpuy-an = place where one livesnpuyo-puyo = casually staying around or remaining somewhere

Related words and expressions

mabuhi = to live / to be alivenbalay = housenlugar = placenreside = loanword for residenpuy-anan = residence or place where one lives

Meaning and usage notes

Used for living or residing in a place. If the idea is “to be alive” or “to survive”, “mabuhi” is a better fit.

dwellliveresidestayverb
Example 1

Mopuyo ko sa Cebu.

I will live in Cebu.

Example 2

Nagpuyo sila sa Davao.

They live in Davao.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Sa wala pa

English

beforeadverbial phrase / time connector

Alternative meanings

beforenprior tonbefore something happensnat an earlier time, depending on context

Pronunciation

sah WAH-lah pah

Root and affixes

Expression formed from sa + wala pa, literally related to “when not yet”.

Variants or conjugations

kaniadto = before / formerly / in the pastnuna = first / before, depending on contextnsa dili pa = before, depending on construction

Related words and expressions

kaniadto = before / formerlynuna = firstnhuman = afternkaron = nownsa wala pa mahitabo = before it happens

Meaning and usage notes

“Sa wala pa” is commonly used for “before” an action. If the idea is “before, in the past”, Cebuano may use “kaniadto”. If the idea is order, “una” can mean first or before.

basic wordsbeforepasttimetime connector
Example 1

Sa wala pa ko molakaw, mokaon ko.

Before I leave, I will eat.

Example 2

Kaniadto, nagpuyo ko didto.

Before, I lived there.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Adto

English

to goverb

Alternative meanings

to gonto go toward a placento move in the direction of a locationnto visit a place, depending on context

Pronunciation

AHD-toh

Root and affixes

Root: adto.

Variants or conjugations

moadto = will go / is going to gonniadto = wentnmiadto = went, variantnadtoa = go to that place / visitnpaadto = toward there

Related words and expressions

moadtonniadtonmiadtonlakawnanhingo homenadtoa

Meaning and usage notes

“Adto” is used for going toward another place. “Anhi” is more about coming here. “Lakaw” can mean to walk or to leave/go, depending on context.

basic wordsdirectionmoveto gotravelverb
Example 1

Moadto ko sa merkado.

I will go to the market.

Example 2

Adto ta didto.

Let us go there.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Ihap

English

to countverb / noun

Alternative meanings

to count numbersnto count itemsnto calculate a quantityncount or counting, depending on context

Pronunciation

EE-hap

Root and affixes

Root: ihap.

Variants or conjugations

mag-ihap = to countngiihap = counted / was countednihapa = count thatnpag-ihap = counting / the act of counting

Related words and expressions

numero = numbernpila = how many / how muchnkantidad = quantitynsulti = tell or say somethingnistorya = story / tell a story

Meaning and usage notes

“Ihap” is used for counting quantities or numbers. If “contar” means to tell or narrate a story, Cebuano usually uses “sulti” or “istorya” depending on the sentence.

basic wordscountingnumbersquantityto countverb
Example 1

Kabalo ko moihap hangtod napulo.

I know how to count to ten.

Example 2

Ihapa ang mga libro.

Count the books.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Lalaki

English

man / malenoun / adjective

Alternative meanings

mannmale personnmale or masculine, depending on context

Pronunciation

lah-LAH-kee

Root and affixes

Base form: lalaki.

Variants or conjugations

mga lalaki = mennbatang lalaki = boyntawo nga lalaki = male person

Related words and expressions

babaye = womanntawo = personnbata = childnamahan = fathernbana = husband

Meaning and usage notes

Used to refer to a man, a male person, or masculine gender. For person in general, use “tawo”; for woman, use “babaye”.

basic wordsmalemanmasculineperson
Example 1

Lalaki siya.

He is a man.

Example 2

Ang batang lalaki nagdula.

The boy is playing.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Bulan

English

monthnoun

Alternative meanings

monthna period of about thirty daysnmoon, depending on context

Pronunciation

BOO-lahn

Root and affixes

Base form: bulan.

Variants or conjugations

mga bulan = monthsnkada bulan = every monthnsunod bulan = next monthnmiaging bulan = last month

Related words and expressions

adlaw = daynsemana = weekntuig = yearnkaron = today / nownsunod bulan = next month

Meaning and usage notes

“Bulan” can mean month or moon. With calendars, dates, or duration, it usually means month. With sky or night contexts, it can refer to the moon.

basic wordscalendarmonthmoontime
Example 1

Usa ka bulan.

One month.

Example 2

Magkita ta sunod bulan.

We will see each other next month.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Kanus-a

English

wheninterrogative adverb

Alternative meanings

whennat what timenon what datenat what moment

Pronunciation

kah-NOOS-ah

Root and affixes

Base form: kanus-a.

Variants or conjugations

kanusa = spelling variant without the hyphennkanus-a man = emphatic or conversational formnkanus-a ka = when you / when will you, depending on context

Related words and expressions

whatnwherenwhynwhonhow muchndayntime

Meaning and usage notes

Used to ask about time, date, or moment. In writing it can also appear as “kanusa” without the hyphen.

basic wordsinterrogative adverbquestiontimewhen
Example 1

Kanus-a ka moadto?

When are you going?

Example 2

Kanus-a ang imong adlawng natawhan?

When is your birthday?

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Tuldok

English

dot / period / pointnoun

Alternative meanings

dotnperiodnsmall round marknpunctuation point in writing

Pronunciation

TOOL-dok

Root and affixes

Base form: tuldok.

Variants or conjugations

mga tuldok = dots / periodsntuldokan = to dot or mark with dotsnpunto = borrowed form used in some contexts, especially score, point, or topic

Related words and expressions

kuwit = commanlinya = linenmarka = marknsulat = writingnpangutana = question

Meaning and usage notes

Used especially for a written dot, period, or small mark. For “point” as an idea, argument, or score, the borrowed form “punto” may also appear depending on context.

basic wordsdotperiodpointpunctuationwriting
Example 1

Butangi og tuldok sa katapusan.

Put a period at the end.

Example 2

Adunay tuldok sa papel.

There is a dot on the paper.

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Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Nasod

English

countrynoun

Alternative meanings

countrynnationnterritorynpolitical community

Pronunciation

NAH-sohd

Root and affixes

Base form: nasod.

Variants or conjugations

nasud = common spelling variantnbansa = related word for country or nation in other Philippine contextsnkanasuran = nations / peoples, depending on context

Related words and expressions

nasudnbansanplacencitynprovincennations

Meaning and usage notes

Used for a country as a territory, nation, or community. The variant “nasud” is also common.

basic wordscountrygeographynationterritory
Example 1

Unsa imong nasod?

What is your country?

Example 2

Nindot ang among nasod.

Our country is beautiful.

Found an error?

Bisaya · Cebuano · Vocabulary

Babaye

English

womannoun

Alternative meanings

womannfemale personnfemale, depending on context

Pronunciation

bah-BAH-yeh

Root and affixes

Base form: babaye.

Variants or conjugations

mga babaye = womennbabayeng = woman/female before a nounnkababaye = womanhood or feminine quality, depending on context

Related words and expressions

lalaki = mannbata = childninahan = motherndalaga = young woman / unmarried womannasawa = wife

Meaning and usage notes

Used to refer to a woman or female person. In some contexts it can also describe gender.

basic wordsfemalegenderpersonwoman
Example 1

Babaye siya.

She is a woman.

Example 2

Daghang babaye dinhi.

There are many women here.

Found an error?