VerbVerbs

Tan-aw in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word Tan-aw means “Look / See / Watch”. Pronounced tahn-AW, it is used as a verb across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what Tan-aw means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “Tan-aw” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), Tan-aw translates to “Look / See / Watch”. The word covers closely related meanings — Look, See, Watch — the right one depends on context.

Bisaya word

Tan-aw

English meaning

Look

Part of speech

Verb

How to Pronounce “Tan-aw”

tahn-AW

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 Tan-aw, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in tahn-AW. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“Tan-aw” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Tan-awa ang sunset!

Look at the sunset!

Related Bisaya Words

Dungog

Hear / Listen

Kita

We (inclusive)

Frequently Asked Questions About “Tan-aw”

What does "Tan-aw" mean in Bisaya?

"Tan-aw" means "Look / See / Watch" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as a verb in the Verbs category.

How do you pronounce "Tan-aw" in Bisaya?

"Tan-aw" is pronounced "tahn-AW" 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 "Tan-aw" Bisaya or Tagalog?

"Tan-aw" 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. "Tan-aw" (Look) 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 "Tan-aw" should be treated as Bisaya-specific unless verified in a Tagalog source.

Can "Tan-aw" be used in formal Bisaya?

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

How do I use "Tan-aw" in a sentence?

Example: "Tan-awa ang sunset!" — "Look at the sunset!".

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