InterjectionExpressions

hoy in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word hoy means “hey! (to get attention)”. Pronounced HOY, it is used as an interjection across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what hoy means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “hoy” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), hoy translates to “hey! (to get attention)”.

Bisaya word

hoy

English meaning

hey! (to get attention)

Part of speech

Interjection

How to Pronounce “hoy”

HOY

Capital letters mark the stressed syllable — say it louder and slightly longer.

Bisaya stress is phonemic, meaning the wrong stress can change a word's meaning or make it unrecognisable to native speakers. For hoy, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in HOY. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“hoy” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Hoy! Tan-awa ko dinhi!

Hey! Look at me here!

Related Bisaya Words

bay

buddy / pal (casual term of address between friends)

dong

term of address for a young boy or younger male

day

term of address for a young girl or younger female

Frequently Asked Questions About “hoy”

What does "hoy" mean in Bisaya?

"hoy" means "hey! (to get attention)" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as an interjection in the Expressions category.

How do you pronounce "hoy" in Bisaya?

"hoy" is pronounced "HOY" in Bisaya. Capital letters in the phonetic spelling mark the stressed syllable. Bisaya stress is generally strong and clear — say the highlighted syllable louder and slightly longer than the rest.

Is "hoy" Bisaya or Tagalog?

"hoy" is a Bisaya (Cebuano) word. Bisaya and Tagalog are separate languages — the same word can mean something different, or nothing at all, in the other language. "hoy" (hey! (to get attention)) is used in the Cebuano-speaking regions: Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and much of Mindanao. Some Bisaya words share a Tagalog cognate through shared Spanish borrowings, but "hoy" should be treated as Bisaya-specific unless verified in a Tagalog source.

Can "hoy" be used in formal Bisaya?

Yes, "hoy" is used in both everyday conversation and more formal settings. As an interjection, it appears frequently in spoken Bisaya across all registers.

How do I use "hoy" in a sentence?

Example: "Hoy! Tan-awa ko dinhi!" — "Hey! Look at me here!".

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