InterjectionExpressions

uy in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word uy means “hey / oh (exclamation of surprise or noticing something)”. Pronounced UY, it is used as a interjection across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what uy means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “uy” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), uy translates to “hey / oh (exclamation of surprise or noticing something)”. The word has multiple closely related meanings: hey, oh (exclamation of surprise or noticing something), all used depending on context.

Bisaya word

uy

English meaning

hey

Part of speech

Interjection

How to Pronounce “uy”

UY

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

“uy” in a Sentence — 1 Examples

Uy, naa diay ka diri!

Oh, you're here!

Related Bisaya Words

hoy

hey! (to get attention)

grabe

wow / intense / extreme / incredible

sus

expression of surprise, dismay, or mild shock

Frequently Asked Questions About “uy”

What does "uy" mean in Bisaya?
"uy" means "hey / oh (exclamation of surprise or noticing something)" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as a interjection in the Expressions category.
How do you pronounce "uy" in Bisaya?
"uy" is pronounced "UY" 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 "uy" used in Tagalog too?
"uy" is primarily a Cebuano/Bisaya word spoken across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. While some Bisaya words overlap with Tagalog, always verify meaning in context since the same word can differ between the two languages.
Can "uy" be used in formal Bisaya?
Yes, "uy" is used in both everyday conversation and more formal settings. As a interjection, it appears frequently in spoken Bisaya across all registers.
How do I use "uy" in a sentence?
Example: "Uy, naa diay ka diri!" — "Oh, you're here!".

Learn More Bisaya

Browse the full dictionary775+ Bisaya words A–ZCommon Bisaya phrases300+ real-use expressionsPractice flashcardsTest your vocabularyEnglish → Bisaya translatorWord-by-word lookup
Browse DictionaryPractice Flashcards