SINUGBUANONG BISAYA

SINUGBUANONG TITIKAN (ALPHABET)

Kids nowadays are taught that the Filipino alphabets — including the Bisaya alphabet — are
composed of 28 letters: all the letters of the English alphabet, plus ñ and ng.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Ññ NGng
Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
However, most of the words that begin with or have the “foreign” letters — such as c and f —
are borrowed words.
So, for the rest of this lesson, we will focus on the native letters of the alphabet (with the k before
l, and not after b as in the old alphabet):
Aa, Bb, Dd, Ee, Gg, Hh, Ii, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, NGng, Oo,
Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Ww, Yy
Bisaya Rhyming Words (Pulong Naggaray / Garay nga Pulong)
In Cebuano (or Sinugbuanong Binisaya), words that rhyme are called pulong naggaray, garay
nga pulong, or pulong garay.
 pulong = word
 garay = rhyme
Ang mga pulong naggaray parehas ang katapusang tingog. (Words that rhyme have the same
sound at the end.)
adlaw hidlaw
(day) (yearn)

agi pagi
(pass) (stingray)

alimatok batok
(leech) (against)

ambak tambak
(jump) (heap)

amigo trigo
(friend) (wheat)

anahaw bahaw
(a kind of fan palm) (leftover rice)

aron karon
(so that) (now)

atis tamatis
(sugar apple) (tomato)

awom lawom
(mole) (deep)

ayaw bayaw
(don't) (brother-in-law)

baboy lumboy
(pig) (black plum)

bala wala
(bullet) (left)
balaan talaan
(holy) (registry)

banay nanay
(family) (mother)

bangaw langaw
(rainbow) (fly)

bangka nangka
(boat) (jackfruit)

bao kamao
(turtle) (knows how to do something)

basa tasa
(read) (cup)

baso laso
(glass) (ribbon)

bibliya tabliya
(bible) (cocoa tablet)

bibo libo
(lively) (thousand)

bilo hilo
(veil) (thread)

bituon igsuon
(star) (sibling)

biya tiya
(leave) (aunt)

bola lola
(ball) (grandmother)

budlay sudlay
(tiresome) (comb)
bugas lugas
(rice) (grain)

bugas tugas
(rice) (molave tree)

buhi gahi
(alive) (hard)

bukog tukog
(bone) (stick)

bukot pukot
(blanket) (fishing net)

busa usa
(therefore) (before)

busina kusina
(car horn) (kitchen)

busog kusog
(satiated) (strength)

butang lutang
(thing) (float)

butones lansones
(button) (lanzones)

buwa duwa
(bubble) (play)

buwad huwad
(dried fish) (pour)

buwak uwak
(flowers) (crow)

buwan uwan
(moon) (rain)
dagat habagat
(sea) (southwest wind)

dako pako
(big) (wing)

dalag kalag
(yellow) (soul)

dalan ngalan
(street) (name)

dama sama
(checkers) (like)

dapit hapit
(place) (drop by)

dawat kawat
(receive) (steal)

dili pili
(no) (choose)

duga suga
(juice) (light)

duka tuka
(sleepy) (peck)

duyog kuyog
(musical accompaniment) (companion)

engkwentro sentro
(encounter) (center)

gabas tabas
(saw) (cut)

gahom tahom
(power) (beauty)
gamot kamot
(root) (hand)

ganghaan tunghaan
(door / gate) (school)

gatas patas
(milk) (even)

gatos putos
(hundred) (wrapping)

gawas tawas
(go out) (alum)

gilak hilak
(shine) (cry)

guba tuba
(destroyed) (coconut wine)

guso puso
(a kind of seaweed) (hanging rice)

habog yamog
(high) (dew)

halad palad
(offer) (fate)

hapa sapa
(drop to the ground) (river)

hapin pakapin
(cover) (extra)

hari pari
(king) (priest)

hatag katag
(give) (in disarray)
hulga lungga
(threat) (den)

hulog tulog
(drop) (sleep)

huwat suwat
(wait) (write)

ig-agaw kagaw
(cousin) (germs)

ila kaila
(their) (acquaintance)

ingon bulingon
(say) (dirty)

inun-onan tabonan
(fish stew) (to cover)

iya giya
(his/hers) (guide)

kaayo maayo
(very) (good)

kabaw tiyabaw
(carabao) (bawl)

kahon mohon
(box) (boundary stone)

kamote kapote
(sweet potato) (raincoat)

kaniadto niadto
(in the past) (went)

kapa tapa
(cape) (dried meat)
kasikas tikas
(noise) (cheat)

kawayan taytayan
(bamboo) (bridge)

kuha luha
(get) (tears)

kurat parat
(startle) (salty)

kutsilyo martilyo
(knife) (hammer)

kuwang suwang
(insufficient) (chin)

lababo pabo
(sink) (turkey)

lahi tahi
(different) (sew)

landang sundang
(palm flour balls) (local machete)

langit sangit
(sky/heaven) (snag)

lanot bunot
(rice soup) (coconut husk)

lapis tapis
(pencil) (wraparound)

lapok tapok
(mud) (gathering)

lata pata
(can) (ham hock)
lingkod sungkod
(sit) (cane)

linya pinya
(line) (pineapple)

liso piso
(seed) (Philippine peso)

lolo ulo
(grandfather) (head)

lupad tupad
(fly) (beside)

manok tunok
(chicken) (thorn)

mantsa plantsa
(stain) (clothes iron)

mga sanga
(many) (branch)

misa pisa
(Mass) (part)

naa paa
(there is) (thigh)

nipa sipa
(a native palm) (kick)

pait wait
(bitter) (underlip)

pala sala
(shovel) (living room)

pista sista
(feast) (guitar)
 pito tito
(whistle) (uncle)

pulong sulong
(word) (advance)

puno tuno
(full) (coconut milk)

sabon tabon
(soap) (cover)

sako tako
(sack) (pool cue)

sipat upat
(mischievous) (four)

sulay tulay
(try) (bridge)

suon tuon
(imitate) (study)

suta yuta
(verify) (land)

tanom unom
(plant) (six)

Bisaya Words for Shapes (Mga Porma)

These are the names of shapes in Bisaya (Sinugbuanong Binisaya or Cebuano):
English Bisaya

circle / round lingin / sirkulo / alidong

oval initlog / alibid

triangle triyanggulo / gitlo / sinug-ang

square kuwadrado / lado

 English Bisaya

rectangle rektanggulo / gipat

oblong tulotaas

pentagon gima

decagon gipo

rhombus bantiwa

trapezoid hulikab

star-shaped binituon

heart-shaped kasingkasingon

Bisaya Color Names (Kolor)

These are the names of colors in Bisaya (Sinugbuanong Binisaya or Cebuano):
English Cebuano / Bisaya

red puwa / pula*

orange kahil

yellow dalag / amarilyo

green lunhaw / berde

blue bughaw / asul

indigo tagom

violet ubihon / biyoleta / tapol

brown tabonon**

gray abohon

black itom
 English Cebuano / Bisaya

white puti

pink rosas / rosa

purple dinorado

peach milukoton

golden buwaw / bulawanon

* A color you may hear in church during Bible readings is “dagtom-pula,” which means scarlet
or crimson.
* The term “tabonon” is usually used when describing brown, relatively dark skin — as opposed
to fair skin, which is described as “puti.” When skin is described as “dalag,” it usually implies
jaundice, whether in newborns or in those with liver problems.
It’s worth noting that many of these color terms aren’t very often used in ordinary conversation.
Exceptions would be puwa (red), puti (white), and itom (black), which do come up a lot.

One kanta nga Binisaya (Bisaya song) that is commonly sung by kids in school is Dinhi
Malipayon, Didto Malipayon. You can watch a video here. It’s a fun song, the words are basic
Cebuano, and its repetitive nature makes it easy to learn.
You can find the lyrics of the song below, and in the sections after that are quizzes that test your
understanding of the words and what part of speech they belong to. The first quiz names the parts
of speech in English, while the second quiz uses the Sinugboanong Binisaya parts of speech,
namely, pungan, pulingalan, pungway, and pungwayon — a greater challenge!. Give it a go!
Dinhi Malipayon, Didto Malipayon: Lyrics
You can find the lyrics of the song below, and in the section after that is a quiz that tests your
understanding of the words and what part of speech they belong to. Give it a go!
||: Dinhi malipayon, didto malipayon
Bisan asa malipayon :||
(Happy here, happy there, happy anywhere)
Chorus:
||: Sayaw-sayaw diyotay, kamot ikapaykapay
Hawak ikiaykiay, tuyok gamay :||
(Dance a little, flap your hands, sway your hips, turn a little)
||: Ako malipayon, ikaw malipayon
Kitang tanan malipayon :||
(I’m happy, you’re happy, we’re all happy)

Pungwayon is the Sinugboanong Binisaya term for adverb.

It’s a part of speech that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. (Usa kini ka kabahin
sa pamulong nga naghulagway sa punglihok, pungway, o lain pang pungwayon.)
There seems to be lots of different types of adverbs (matang sa pungwayon) but for this lesson
we’ll focus on the most common ones and just mention the others in passing.

Meaning of pungwayon in Cebuano (kahulugan sa pungwayon sa Sinugboanong Binisaya):

pulong nga naghulagway sa punglihok, pungway, o lain pang pungwayon

Pungwayon in English:
Adverb

Pungwayon in Tagalog/Filipino:
Pang-abay

Pinakakumon na mga matang sa pungwayon (types of adverbs):

 Pungwayon sa pamaagi - adverb of manner

 Pungwayon sa katagi - adverb of degree

 Pungwayon sa panahon - adverb of time

 Pungwayon sa kasubsob - adverb of frequency

 Pungwayon sa dapit - adverb of place

 Pungwayon sa katarongan - adverb of reason

Mga Matang sa Pungwayon (Types of Adverbs)
Pungwayon sa Pamaagi
In English, pungwayon sa pamaagi is adverb of manner. It answers the question “how.” It is
sometimes referred to as “adberbiyo sa giunsa pagbuhat ug mga lihok.”
Example:
Maayo moduwa ug futbol si Leo. (Leo plays football well.) The word “maayo” (well) describes
the word “moduwa” (plays) — it tells us how Leo plays football — so “maayo” is a pungwayon
sa pamaagi.
Pungwayon sa Katagi
In English, pungwayon sa katagi is adverb of degree. It answers the question “to what extent.”
Example:
Maayo kaayo moduwa ug futbol si Leo. (Leo plays football very well.) The word “kaayo” (very)
describes the word “maayo” (well) which in turn describes the word “moduwa” (plays). It tells
us to what extent Leo plays football well and so it is a pungwayon sa katagi.
Pungwayon sa Panahon
In English, pungwayon sa panahon is adverb of time. It answers the question “when.” It is
sometimes referred to as “adberbiyo sa panahon sa pagbuhat sa lihok.”
Example:
Moduwa sila kontra sa Atalanta karong gabii. (They will play against Atalanta tonight.) “Karong
gabii” (tonight) tells us when the verb “moduwa” (will play) will take place and so it is a
pungwayon sa panahon.
Pungwayon sa Kasubsob
In English, pungwayon sa kasubsob is adverb of frequency. It answers the question “how often.”
Example:
Aduna sila’y duwa kada semana. (They have a match every week.) “Kada semana” (every week)
describes how often they have (“aduna”) a match, which makes it a pungwayon sa kasubsob.
Pungwayon sa Dapit
In English, pungwayon sa dapit is adverb of place. It answers the question “where.” It is
sometimes referred to as “adberbiyo sa lugar nga nahitabuan sa lihok.”
Example:
Nagduwa sila sa Camp Nou. (They played in Camp Nou.) “Sa Camp Nou” tells us where they
played (“nagduwa”) so it is a pungwayon sa dapit.
Other Types of Adverbs
 adverb of reason – pungwayon sa katarongan
 interrogative adverb – pangsukna nga pungwayon
 conjunctive adverb – panugtongong pungwayon
 independent adverb – dimaagarong pungwayon
 negative adverb – panupak nga pungwayon
 adverb of refusal – pamalibad nga pungwayon
 prohibitive adverb – pangdili nga pungwayon
 relative adverb – panghisgot nga pungwayon

Pungway means adjective in Sinugboanong Binisaya. The term

“pungway” is the shortened version (because Cebuanos are fond of
shortening words whenever they can!) of “pulong
panghulagway” which translates to “words for describing.” And that is
exactly what adjectives are: words that describe nouns or pronouns
(pulong nga naghulagway sa pungan o pulingalan).

Verbs are called mga punglihok in Sinugboanong Binisaya. The word punglihok is a

combination of pung (a contraction of pulong, which means word) and lihok (which means
action). Thus, punglihok literally means action word…or verb!
Meaning of punglihok in Bisaya / Cebuano / Sinugboanong Binisaya:
Mga pulong nga nagpahayag ug aksyon
Punglihok in English is:
Verb
Punglihok in Tagalog is:
Pandiwa
Mga Adlaw Sulod sa Usa ka Semana (Days of the Week)
English Sinugboanong Binisaya (Cebuano)

Sunday Dominggo

Monday Lunes

Tuesday Martes

Wednesday Miyerkules

Thursday Huwebes (Huybes)

Friday Biyernes

Saturday Sabado

Bisaya Numbers 1-20 (Sinugboanong Binisaya)

Native Binisaya Spanish-derived

1 usá uno

2 duhá dos

3 tuló tres

4 upát kwatro / cuatro

5 limá singko / cinco

6 unóm sayis

7 pitó siete

8 waló otso / ocho

9 siyám nuybe / nuwebe / nueve

10 napulò dyes / diéz

11 napulò'g usá * onse / once

 Native Binisaya Spanish-derived

12 napulò'g duhá dose / doce

13 napulò'g tuló trese / trece

14 napulò'g upát katorse / catorce

15 napulò'g limá kinse / quince

16 napulò'g unóm dise-sayis / dieceseis

17 napulò'g pitó dise-syete / diecesiete

18 napulò'g waló dise-otso / dieceocho

19 napulò'g siyám dise-nuybe / diecenueve

20 kawhaán baynte (beinte)

Sinugboanong Binisaya (Cebuano) questions.

 Who – Kinsa

 What – Unsa
 When – Kanus-a

 Where – Diin (past); Asa or Hain (present/future)
 How – Giunsa (past); Unsaon (future)

 Which – may use hain, asa or unsa depending on context

 Why – Ngano

Sanglitanan sa Mga Pangutana (Examples of Questions)

Who
Who is your teacher?
Kinsa imong maestra?
What
What is your favorite book?
Unsa imong paboritong libro?
When
When did you arrive?
Kanus-a ka naabot?
Where
Where did you come from?
Diin ka gikan?
Where are you now?
Asa ka karon?
Where are you going?
Asa ka moadto?
How
How did you get here?
Giunsa nimo pag-ari?
How will you get there?
Unsaon nimo pag-adto?
Special “how” questions:
How are you?
Kumusta [ka]?
How much is this/that?
Tagpila ni/na?
Which
Which bag is yours?
Asa ana imong bag?
Which flight are you taking?
Unsa nga flight imong sakyan?
Which of these do you like?
Hain ani imong gusto?
Why
Why is learning Bisaya difficult? (It’s not!)
Nganong lisod man magkat-on ug Bisaya? (Dili man!)