PhraseCommon Phrases

Salamat kaayo in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word Salamat kaayo means “Thank you very much”. Pronounced sah-LAH-maht kah-AH-yo, it is used as a phrase across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what Salamat kaayo means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “Salamat kaayo” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), Salamat kaayo translates to “Thank you very much”.

Bisaya word

Salamat kaayo

English meaning

Thank you very much

Part of speech

Phrase

How to Pronounce “Salamat kaayo”

sah-LAH-maht kah-AH-yo

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 Salamat kaayo, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in sah-LAH-maht kah-AH-yo. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“Salamat kaayo” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Salamat kaayo sa tanan!

Thank you very much for everything!

Related Bisaya Words

Salamat

Thank you

Frequently Asked Questions About “Salamat kaayo”

What does "Salamat kaayo" mean in Bisaya?

"Salamat kaayo" means "Thank you very much" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as a phrase in the Common Phrases category.

How do you pronounce "Salamat kaayo" in Bisaya?

"Salamat kaayo" is pronounced "sah-LAH-maht kah-AH-yo" 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 "Salamat kaayo" Bisaya or Tagalog?

"Salamat kaayo" 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. "Salamat kaayo" (Thank you very much) 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 "Salamat kaayo" should be treated as Bisaya-specific unless verified in a Tagalog source.

Can "Salamat kaayo" be used in formal Bisaya?

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

How do I use "Salamat kaayo" in a sentence?

Example: "Salamat kaayo sa tanan!" — "Thank you very much for everything!".

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