Sinugbuanon
Cebuano
Austronesian
Cebuano (Sinugbuanong Binisayâ, often just 'Bisaya') is the most widely spoken Visayan language and the second-most spoken native language of the Philippines after Tagalog, with around 22 million native speakers. Centered on Cebu, Bohol, eastern Negros, western Leyte, and parts of Mindanao. Austronesian Philippine subgroup, with VSO basic word order, an elaborate Austronesian focus/voice system, and extensive Spanish-derived vocabulary from three centuries of colonial contact. Latin script; recognized as an auxiliary regional language under the Philippine constitution.
Where it is spoken
20 core words in Cebuano
Water
tubig
/tubiɡ/
Fire
kalayo
/kalajo/
Sun
adlaw
/adlaw/
Moon
bulan
/bulan/
Mother
inahan
/inahan/
Father
amahan
/amahan/
Eat
kaon
/kaʔon/
Drink
inom
/inom/
Love
gugma
/ɡuɡma/
Heart
kasingkasing
/kasiŋkasiŋ/
Tree
kahoy
/kahoj/
House
balay
/balaj/
Dog
iro
/iɾo/
Cat
iring
/iɾiŋ/
Hand
kamot
/kamot/
Eye
mata
/mata/
Hello
kumusta
/kumusta/
Thank you
salamat
/salamat/
One
usa
/usa/
Good
maayo
/maʔajo/
Words compared
Compared with related Austronesian languages
| Meaning | Cebuano | Waray | Hiligaynon | Tausug | Old Tagalog | Iriga Bicolano | Bikol Central |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | tubig /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | ᜆᜓᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ |
| Fire | kalayo /kalajo/ | kalayo /kalajɔ/ | kalayo /kalajɔ/ | kayu /kaju/ | ᜀᜉᜓᜌ᜔ /apuj/ | kalayo /kalajɔ/ | kalayo /kalajo/ |
| Sun | adlaw /adlaw/ | adlaw /ʔadlaw/ | adlaw /ʔadlaw/ | adlaw /adlaw/ | ᜀᜇᜏ᜔ /araw/ | aldəw /aldəw/ | aldaw /aldaw/ |
| Moon | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ | ᜊᜓᜏᜈ᜔ /buwan/ | bulən /bulən/ | bulan /bulan/ |
| Mother | inahan /inahan/ | nanay /nanaj/ | nanay /nanaj/ | inaꞌ /inaʔ/ | ᜁᜈ /ina/ | ina /ina/ | nanay /nanaj/ |
| Father | amahan /amahan/ | tatay /tataj/ | tatay /tataj/ | amaꞌ /amaʔ/ | ᜀᜋ /ama/ | ama /ama/ | tatay /tataj/ |
| Eat | kaon /kaʔon/ | kaon /kaʔon/ | kaon /kaʔɔn/ | kaun /kaʔun/ | ᜃᜁᜈ᜔ /kain/ | kaən /kaʔən/ | kakanon /kakanon/ |
| Drink | inom /inom/ | inom /ʔinɔm/ | inom /ʔinɔm/ | minum /minum/ | ᜁᜈᜓᜋ᜔ /inom/ | inum /inum/ | inumon /inumon/ |
| Love | gugma /ɡuɡma/ | gugma /ɡuɡma/ | gugma /ɡuɡma/ | lasa /lasa/ | ᜁᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /ibiɡ/ | pagkaibəg /paɡkaʔibəɡ/ | pagkamoot /paɡkamoʔot/ |
| Heart | kasingkasing /kasiŋkasiŋ/ | kasingkasing /kasiŋkasiŋ/ | tagipusoon /taɡipusɔʔɔn/ | pusuꞌ /pusuʔ/ | ᜉᜓᜐᜓ /puso/ | puso /puso/ | puso /puso/ |
| Tree | kahoy /kahoj/ | kahoy /kahɔj/ | kahoy /kahɔj/ | kahuy /kahuj/ | ᜃᜑᜓᜌ᜔ /kahoj/ | kahoy /kahɔj/ | kahoy /kahoj/ |
| House | balay /balaj/ | balay /balaj/ | balay /balaj/ | bāy /baːj/ | ᜊᜑᜌ᜔ /bahaj/ | baləy /baləj/ | harong /haɾoŋ/ |
| Dog | iro /iɾo/ | ayam /ˈʔajam/ | ido /ʔidɔ/ | iruꞌ /iruʔ/ | ᜀᜐᜓ /aso/ | ayam /ajam/ | ayam /ajam/ |
| Cat | iring /iɾiŋ/ | misay /misaj/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ | ᜉᜓᜐ /pusa/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ | ikos /ikos/ |
| Hand | kamot /kamot/ | kamot /kamɔt/ | kamot /kamɔt/ | lima /lima/ | ᜃᜋᜌ᜔ /kamaj/ | kamət /kamət/ | kamot /kamot/ |
| Eye | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | ᜋᜆ /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Hello | kumusta /kumusta/ | kumusta /kumusta/ | kamusta /kamusta/ | kumusta /kumusta/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜑᜌ᜔ /mabuhaj/ | kumusta /kumusta/ | kumusta /kumusta/ |
| Thank you | salamat /salamat/ | salamat /salamat/ | salamat /salamat/ | magsukul /maɡsukul/ | ᜐᜎᜋᜆ᜔ /salamat/ | dyos mabalos /djos mabalos/ | dios mabalos /dios mabalos/ |
| One | usa /usa/ | usa /ʔusa/ | isa /ʔisa/ | isa /isa/ | ᜁᜐ /isa/ | əsad /əsad/ | saro /saɾo/ |
| Good | maayo /maʔajo/ | maupay /maʔupaj/ | maayo /maʔajɔ/ | marayaw /marajaw/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜆᜒ /mabuti/ | marhəy /maɾhəj/ | marhay /maɾhaj/ |
Word order compared
Compare with major world languages
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