PhrasePoliteness

Pasensya in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word Pasensya means “Sorry / forgive me / patience”. Pronounced pah-SEHN-syah, it is used as a phrase across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what Pasensya means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “Pasensya” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), Pasensya translates to “Sorry / forgive me / patience”. The word covers closely related meanings — Sorry, forgive me, patience — the right one depends on context.

Usage note: From Spanish paciencia. Softer than pasayloa ko (the formal forgive me). Use for small mishaps.

Bisaya word

Pasensya

English meaning

Sorry

Part of speech

Phrase

How to Pronounce “Pasensya”

pah-SEHN-syah

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 Pasensya, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in pah-SEHN-syah. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“Pasensya” in a Sentence — 2 Examples

Pasensya kaayo ko.

I'm very sorry.

Pasensya na ha?

Excuse me, sorry.

Related Bisaya Words

Palihog

Please

Frequently Asked Questions About “Pasensya”

What does "Pasensya" mean in Bisaya?

"Pasensya" means "Sorry / forgive me / patience" in Bisaya (Cebuano). From Spanish paciencia. Softer than pasayloa ko (the formal forgive me). Use for small mishaps. It is used as a phrase in the Politeness category.

How do you pronounce "Pasensya" in Bisaya?

"Pasensya" is pronounced "pah-SEHN-syah" 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 "Pasensya" Bisaya or Tagalog?

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

Can "Pasensya" be used in formal Bisaya?

Yes, "Pasensya" is used in both everyday conversation and more formal settings. From Spanish paciencia. Softer than pasayloa ko (the formal forgive me). Use for small mishaps.

How do I use "Pasensya" in a sentence?

Example: "Pasensya kaayo ko." — "I'm very sorry.". Another example: "Pasensya na ha?" — "Excuse me, sorry.".

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