Question WordQuestion Words

Unsa in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word Unsa means “What”. Pronounced OON-sah, it is used as a question word across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what Unsa means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “Unsa” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), Unsa translates to “What”.

Bisaya word

Unsa

English meaning

What

Part of speech

Question Word

How to Pronounce “Unsa”

OON-sah

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

“Unsa” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Unsa imong ngalan?

What is your name?

Related Bisaya Words

Asa

Where

Kinsa

Who

Ngano

Why

Frequently Asked Questions About “Unsa”

What does "Unsa" mean in Bisaya?

"Unsa" means "What" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as a question word in the Question Words category.

How do you pronounce "Unsa" in Bisaya?

"Unsa" is pronounced "OON-sah" 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 "Unsa" Bisaya or Tagalog?

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

Can "Unsa" be used in formal Bisaya?

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

How do I use "Unsa" in a sentence?

Example: "Unsa imong ngalan?" — "What is your name?".

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