NounBody Parts

mata in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word mata means “eye / eyes”. Pronounced MA-ta, it is used as a noun across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what mata means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “mata” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), mata translates to “eye / eyes”. The word covers closely related meanings — eye, eyes — the right one depends on context.

Bisaya word

mata

English meaning

eye

Part of speech

Noun

How to Pronounce “mata”

MA-ta

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 mata, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in MA-ta. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“mata” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Nindot ang iyang mga mata.

Her eyes are beautiful.

Related Bisaya Words

Tan-aw

Look / See / Watch

ulo

head

Frequently Asked Questions About “mata”

What does "mata" mean in Bisaya?

"mata" means "eye / eyes" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as a noun in the Body Parts category.

How do you pronounce "mata" in Bisaya?

"mata" is pronounced "MA-ta" 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 "mata" Bisaya or Tagalog?

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

Can "mata" be used in formal Bisaya?

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

How do I use "mata" in a sentence?

Example: "Nindot ang iyang mga mata." — "Her eyes are beautiful.".

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