Bisaya Grammar · Lesson 27 of 30
Health & Medical Phrases in Bisaya
How to describe illness, pain, and talk to a doctor or pharmacist in Cebuano
Overview
Examples & Usage
Dili ko maayo, naghilanat ko.
I'm not well, I have a fever.
Naghilanat = having fever (ongoing)
Sakit kaayo ang akong tiyan.
My stomach hurts a lot.
Kaayo intensifies the pain: very painful
Maayo naman ko karon.
I'm already better now.
Naman = already, indicates change in state
Kinahanglan ko og gamot para sa akong ubo.
I need medicine for my cough.
Para sa = for (purpose), ubo = cough
Pila ka adlaw na ka nag-ubo?
How many days have you been coughing?
Pila ka adlaw = how many days
Dili ko makakaon, nausab ang akong tiyan.
I can't eat, my stomach is upset.
Nausab ang tiyan = stomach turned / upset
Aduna bay doktor dinhi?
Is there a doctor here?
Aduna bay = is there a [noun]?
Key Tips
- 1Sakit = noun (pain) AND adjective (painful) — context tells you which: 'Sakit ang ulo ko' vs 'Unsa ang imong sakit?'
- 2Hilanat = fever as a noun; Naghilanat = currently having fever (verb form with nag-).
- 3At local clinics, staff will often switch to English if you start in English, but knowing these phrases helps with older or rural practitioners.
- 4Botica = pharmacy — this is the word used in everyday Bisaya, not 'parmasya'.
- 5In emergencies: 'Tabang!' = Help! — short and universally understood.
Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge
5 questions · select the best answer for each
1.How do you say 'I am sick' in Bisaya?
2.What is the Bisaya word for 'pharmacy'?
3.'Naghilanat ko.' What does this mean?
4.What does 'Tabang!' mean in an emergency?
5.'Sakit kaayo ang akong tiyan.' What is the speaker saying?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell someone I am sick in Bisaya?
'Nasakit ko' is the most common phrase for 'I am sick / I got sick.' 'Nasakit ko karon' (I am sick now). 'Nagmasakiton ko' means 'I am often sick / I am sickly' (habitual illness). For specific conditions: 'Naghilanat ko' (I have a fever), 'Naguba ang akong kusog' (My strength is broken down / I feel weak). 'Dili ko maayo' (I am not well) is also natural and widely understood.
How do I ask for medicine in a pharmacy (botica) in Bisaya?
'Naay tambal para sa ulo-sakit?' (Do you have medicine for headache?). 'Palihug hatagi ko ug tambal para sa tulan-an' (Please give me medicine for joint pain). 'Tambal' = medicine/medication. The word 'botica' is the standard Bisaya word for pharmacy — most locals use this, not 'parmasya' or the English 'pharmacy.' Simply stating your symptom + 'tambal' usually gets you the right product.
What are the most important emergency phrases in Bisaya?
Key emergency phrases: 'Tabang!' (Help!), 'Kalamigohan siya!' (He/she fainted!), 'Naligsan siya!' (He/she was run over!), 'Naapasan siya' (He/she choked), 'Sakay sa ospital!' (Take them to the hospital!), 'Tawgi ang ambulansya' (Call the ambulance). 'Tabang!' is universal and will get immediate attention. In Cebu, 911 is the emergency number.
What does 'hilanat' mean and how is it used?
'Hilanat' = fever (noun). To say you have a fever: 'Naghilanat ko' (I have a fever right now — nag- for ongoing) or 'Nasakit ko — naghilanat' (I'm sick — I have a fever). 'Pag-inom ug tambal para sa hilanat' (Take medicine for the fever). 'Taas ang iyang hilanat' (His/her fever is high). 'Hilanat' is also used informally to mean someone is being intense or 'running hot': 'Nag-hilanat siya sa trabaho' (He's burning up with work).
How do I describe pain levels to a doctor in Bisaya?
Pain levels: 'Sakit kaayo' (very painful), 'Sakit ra gamay' (just a little painful), 'Dili kaayo sakit' (not very painful). For sharp vs dull: 'Nagatusok-tusok' (stabbing/stinging pain), 'Nagkurog' (throbbing), 'Nagbarog' (constant, dull). For pain location: 'Sulod' (inside/internal), 'Gawas' (outside/surface). Doctors in Cebu generally speak English but using Bisaya pain descriptions often creates better rapport and clearer communication.
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