Question WordQuestion Words

Kanus-a in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word Kanus-a means “When”. Pronounced kah-NOOS-ah, it is used as a question word across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what Kanus-a means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “Kanus-a” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), Kanus-a translates to “When”.

Bisaya word

Kanus-a

English meaning

When

Part of speech

Question Word

How to Pronounce “Kanus-a”

kah-NOOS-ah

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 Kanus-a, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in kah-NOOS-ah. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“Kanus-a” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Kanus-a ka moabot?

When will you arrive?

Related Bisaya Words

Pila

How much / How many

Asa

Where

Frequently Asked Questions About “Kanus-a”

What does "Kanus-a" mean in Bisaya?

"Kanus-a" means "When" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as a question word in the Question Words category.

How do you pronounce "Kanus-a" in Bisaya?

"Kanus-a" is pronounced "kah-NOOS-ah" 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 "Kanus-a" Bisaya or Tagalog?

"Kanus-a" 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. "Kanus-a" (When) 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 "Kanus-a" should be treated as Bisaya-specific unless verified in a Tagalog source.

Can "Kanus-a" be used in formal Bisaya?

Yes, "Kanus-a" is used in both everyday conversation and more formal settings. As a question word, it appears frequently in spoken Bisaya across all registers.

How do I use "Kanus-a" in a sentence?

Example: "Kanus-a ka moabot?" — "When will you arrive?".

Learn More Bisaya

Browse the full dictionary771+ Bisaya words A–Z Common Bisaya phrases300+ real-use expressions Practice flashcardsTest your vocabulary English → Bisaya translatorWord-by-word lookup

Browse Dictionary Practice Flashcards