The Cebuano/Bisaya word kausa means “once”. It is used as an adverb by native Cebuano speakers across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This page covers what kausa means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it correctly, how to use it in a sentence, and related words in the same category.
Bisaya word
kausa
English meaning
once
Part of speech
Adverb
In Bisaya (Cebuano), kausa translates to “once”.
As an adverb in the Adverbs category, “kausa” is part of the core Bisaya vocabulary that learners encounter early on. Native speakers use it across all registers — casual home conversations in Cebu, busy marketplaces in Bohol, and everyday interactions throughout the Visayas and Mindanao.
Bisaya adverbs like "kausa" (once) are typically placed near the word or phrase they modify, often right after the verb. They add precision and nuance to your sentences without changing the core meaning. Learning common Bisaya adverbs alongside verbs and adjectives is one of the most effective ways to accelerate your fluency.
Kausa ra siya nikaun karung adlawa.
He only ate once this day.
Expand your vocabulary by learning other Bisaya adverbs in the same category as “kausa”.
Meaning shortened and example sentence adapted from Wiktionary, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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