Everyday Bisaya — Phrasebook

302 Essential Bisaya Phrases for Daily Conversation

302 phrases11 categoriesfree forever

Greetings, questions, food, travel, emergencies, and more — each phrase includes pronunciation. Click any underlined Cebuano word to jump to its dictionary entry.

Bisaya — also called Cebuano or Visayan — is spoken by more than 22 million people across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Davao, and over a dozen Philippine provinces. Whether you're visiting the Visayas, in a relationship with someone from Cebu, joining a Filipino family, or reconnecting with your Bisaya roots abroad, these 302 phrases cover roughly 80% of situations you'll encounter in daily life.

Every phrase includes the native Bisaya text, a phonetic pronunciation guide with stressed syllables marked in capitals (so sah-LAH-maht means stress the second syllable), and cultural notes where context matters. Unlike a static PDF phrasebook, every underlined Bisaya word in this guide links directly to its dictionary entry — tap or click any word to see its full definition, example sentences, and usage notes.

Looking to translate individual words? Try our Bisaya to English translator (775+ Cebuano words) or the English to Bisaya translator (445+ entries with pronunciation).

How this phrasebook is organized: The 302 phrases are grouped into 11 categories — Greetings & Introductions, Common Phrases, Questions, Transportation, Directions, Food & Dining, Shopping, Money & Currency, Emergency, Feelings & Emotions, Respect & Politeness. Use the jump links below to navigate directly to the section you need, or use the search bar to find any phrase instantly.

Start with the Greetings section — phrases like Kumusta ka? (How are you?) and Salamat (Thank you) open every interaction. Then work through the category most relevant to your situation: travelers need Transportation and Directions, food lovers should explore Dining, and those learning for a partner should prioritize Feelings & Expressions. The entire guide is cross-checked against Wolff's Cebuano Visayan Dictionary by native speakers.

Tip: Every underlined word in a phrase is clickable. Tap it to open the full dictionary entry with pronunciation, examples, and usage notes.

👋 Greetings & Introductions

Greetings & Introductions Phrases

34 phrases

How to greet, introduce yourself, and say goodbye

Greetings & Introductions

Not bad

Maayo-ayo ra

only

RAH

📖 Dictionary

mah-AH-yo AH-yo rah

Greetings & Introductions

Where are you from?

Taga-asa ka

you

KAH

📖 Dictionary
?

tah-GAH ah-SAH kah

Greetings & Introductions

Take care

Pag-amping

pahg-ahm-PEENG

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💬 Common Phrases

Common Phrases Phrases

19 phrases

Everyday expressions you'll use often

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❓ Questions

Questions Phrases

15 phrases

How to ask questions in Bisaya

Questions

Do you speak English?

Kahibalo ka

you

KAH

📖 Dictionary
 mag-English?

kah-hee-BAH-loh kah mahg-ENG-lish

Questions

What time is it?

Unsang orasa na

already

NA

📖 Dictionary
?

oon-SAHNG oh-RAH-sah nah

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🚐 Transportation

Transportation Phrases

42 phrases

Getting around by jeepney, bus, tricycle, and more

Transportation

I'll get off here

Naay

there is a

nah-AI

📖 Dictionary
 manaog

nah-AI mah-nah-OG

Literally 'someone is getting off'

Transportation

Move over a bit (make room)

Palihug

please

pah-lee-HOOG

📖 Dictionary
 paagi

pah-lee-HOOG pah-AH-gee

Asking fellow passengers to make space

Transportation

How much to...?

Tagpila paingon sa

in

SA

📖 Dictionary
...?

tahg-pee-LAH pah-een-GON sah

For tricycles/pedicabs, negotiate price before riding

Transportation

Special trip (exclusive ride)

Special

SPEH-shal

You hire the whole vehicle for yourself

Transportation

Regular (shared ride)

Regular / Habal

REH-gyoo-lahr / HAH-bahl

Shared with other passengers, cheaper

Transportation

We're stuck in traffic

Na-trapik ta

we

TAH

📖 Dictionary

nah-TRAH-peek tah

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🧭 Directions

Directions Phrases

37 phrases

Navigating and asking for directions

Directions

Over there (visible)

Diha

there

dee-HAH

📖 Dictionary

dee-HAH

Used for places you can point to

Directions

Mall

Mall

mohl

Directions

Airport

Airport / Tugpahanan

EHR-port / toog-pah-HAH-nahn

Directions

Hotel

Hotel

hoh-TEL

Directions

Restaurant

Restaurant / Kan-anan

res-tow-RAHNT / kahn-AH-nahn

Directions

Pharmacy

Botika / Pharmacy

boh-TEE-kah

Directions

Cross the street

Tabok sa

in

SA

📖 Dictionary
 karsada

TAH-bok sah kahr-SAH-dah

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🍽️ Food & Dining

Food & Dining Phrases

48 phrases

Ordering food and dining phrases

Food & Dining

Rice (cooked)

Kan-on

kahn-ON

Food & Dining

What is this dish?

Unsa

what

OON-sah

📖 Dictionary
 ning pagkaona?

oon-SAH neeng pahg-kah-OH-nah

Food & Dining

What dishes do you have?

Unsa'y inyong sud-an

viand

SUD-an

📖 Dictionary
?

OON-sai ee-NYOHNG SOOD-ahn

Food & Dining

I'd like the bill

Pa-bayad, palihog

pah-BAH-yahd, pah-LEE-hohg

Food & Dining

Vinegared raw fish, please

Kinilaw, palihog

kee-NEE-law, pah-LEE-hohg

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🛒 Shopping

Shopping Phrases

31 phrases

Shopping, bargaining, and sari-sari store phrases

Shopping

Do you have...?

Naay

there is a

nah-AI

📖 Dictionary
...?

nah-AI

Common question at sari-sari stores

Shopping

Can I pay later?

Pwede

can

PWEH-deh

📖 Dictionary
 utang?

PWEH-deh oo-TAHNG

Asking for credit (common at sari-sari stores)

Shopping

Do you have other colors?

Naay

there is a

nah-AI

📖 Dictionary
 laing kolor?

nah-AI lah-EENG KOH-lor

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💰 Money & Currency

Money & Currency Phrases

22 phrases

Understanding Philippine Peso and exchanging money

Money & Currency

Philippine Peso

Piso

peso

PEE-soh

📖 Dictionary

PEE-soh

Official currency of the Philippines

Money & Currency

Centavo (cent)

Sentimo

sen-TEE-moh

100 sentimo = 1 piso

Money & Currency

Fifty peso bill

Singkwenta

seeng-KWEN-tah

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🚨 Emergency

Emergency Phrases

13 phrases

Important phrases for emergencies

Emergency

Thief!

Kawatan! / Tulisan!

kah-WAH-tahn / too-LEE-sahn

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😊 Feelings & Emotions

Feelings & Emotions Phrases

19 phrases

Express how you feel

Feelings & Emotions

Let's talk it out

Magsabotsabot ta

we

TAH

📖 Dictionary

mahg-sah-BOHT-sah-boht tah

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🙏 Respect & Politeness

Respect & Politeness Phrases

22 phrases

Showing respect, especially to elders

Respect & Politeness

Bless (hand gesture to forehead)

Mano po

polite particle

POH

📖 Dictionary

MAH-noh poh

Take elder's hand and touch to your forehead as sign of respect

Respect & Politeness

Response to Mano (God bless you)

Kaluoy sa

in

SA

📖 Dictionary
 Dios

kah-LOO-oy sah dee-YOS

What elders say after receiving mano

Respect & Politeness

Excuse me (to pass by someone)

Tabi / Tabi po

polite particle

POH

📖 Dictionary

TAH-bee / TAH-bee poh

Say when passing by someone, especially elders

Respect & Politeness

With respect (polite particle)

Po

polite particle

POH

📖 Dictionary
 / Ho

polite particle

HOH

📖 Dictionary

poh / hoh

Add to sentences when speaking to elders: 'Oo po' (Yes, with respect)

Practice these phrases →

How to Practice These Bisaya Phrases

Use the daily 10-phrase rule. Pick 10 phrases from a single category each day. Study them in the morning, use them in imagined conversations throughout the day, and review them before bed. After one month you'll have covered all 302 phrases and started the natural spiral of spaced repetition.

Speak out loud — don't just read. Bisaya has a rhythmic stress pattern that you can only internalize through speaking, not reading. Use the capitalized syllables in the pronunciation guide as your stress map, then say each phrase five times aloud. Your mouth needs to learn the rhythm as much as your brain needs to learn the meaning.

Drill with the practice quiz. Active recall outperforms passive reading by 3–5x for long-term retention. After studying a category here, head to /practice and test yourself on those phrases. The quiz forces your brain to retrieve, not just recognize — that's what builds real fluency.

Pair phrases with grammar lessons. Phrases get you started; grammar gives you the ability to modify them. Once you can say Pila ni? (How much is this?), the grammar guide teaches you how to ask about anything: Pila ang...? applied to jeepney fares, market prices, restaurant bills. Grammar turns 302 phrases into thousands.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bisaya Phrases

How many Bisaya phrases do I need to know?

Research on language acquisition shows that 200–300 high-frequency phrases cover roughly 80% of daily conversations. The 302 phrases in this guide were selected specifically for that coverage. Start with Greetings, Common Phrases, and Food — those three categories alone (62 phrases) will get you through most everyday interactions.

Are these phrases used in Cebu, Bohol, and Davao?

Yes. These phrases are standard Cebuano/Bisaya, spoken across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros Oriental, and large parts of Mindanao including Davao City. Minor accent differences exist between regions, but the vocabulary and grammar are mutually understood everywhere Bisaya is the dominant language.

How do I pronounce the Bisaya 'ng' sound?

The 'ng' in Bisaya is the same nasal sound as the 'ng' at the end of 'sing' or 'ring' in English. Unlike English, Bisaya uses this sound at the start of words too — for example, ngalan (name) and ngano (why). Practice by saying 'singing' quickly, then isolate and hold the middle 'ng' sound.

What's the difference between formal and informal Bisaya?

Formality in Bisaya is shown less through verb conjugations and more through vocabulary choices and politeness particles. Adding 'po' or 'ho' to your sentences signals respect to elders. 'Palihug' (please) and 'salamat' (thank you) are always appropriate. The vocabulary itself stays largely the same across registers — it's the particles and tone that shift.

Can I use these phrases in Tagalog-speaking regions?

In Metro Manila and other Tagalog-speaking areas, most people won't understand Bisaya. However, Filipino multilingualism means many residents understand basic phrases, and English is widely spoken in cities. Reserve these phrases for the Visayas, Mindanao, or when speaking directly to Bisaya-speaking family and friends.

What are the most useful Bisaya phrases for tourists?

The six highest-value tourist phrases are: Para! (Stop here — the jeepney signal), Pila ni? (How much is this?), Mahal kaayo (Too expensive), Asa ang...? (Where is...?), Salamat (Thank you), and Lami kaayo! (Very delicious!). Master these six and you can navigate markets, transport, and restaurants across the Visayas.

How long does it take to memorize 100 Bisaya phrases?

With 20–30 minutes of daily practice, most learners reach solid recall of 100 phrases in 2–3 weeks. The key is spaced repetition: review new phrases on day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Active drilling outperforms passive reading — use the TalkBisaya practice quiz to test yourself rather than just reading through the list.

Are these phrases good for talking to my Filipino family?

Absolutely — and your in-laws will love the effort. Start with respect phrases: Mano po (the hand-blessing gesture with elders) and adding 'po' to your sentences. Then add food phrases: Lami kaayo ang sud-an! (The food is delicious!) goes a long way at any Filipino family gathering. Attempting even basic Bisaya shows genuine respect for their language and culture.

Related Resources

Bisaya Dictionary →700+ Cebuano words with pronunciation, examples, and cultural notesGrammar Guide →Learn how Bisaya sentence structure, verb focus, and particles workGetting Started →The complete beginner roadmap — where to start if you know zero BisayaPractice Quiz →Test yourself on vocabulary and phrases with spaced repetition drillsWord of the Day →One new Bisaya word every day with example sentencesBisaya Stories →See these phrases in action — 5 real Cebu situations with full contextBisaya Blog →Deep-dive guides on Cebuano language, culture, and usage tips

How to read pronunciations

Capitalized syllables in the pronunciation guide indicate primary stress. For example, sah-LAH-maht means you stress the second syllable: sa-LA-mat. Bisaya has a relatively regular stress system — once you feel the rhythm in a few dozen words, it becomes intuitive.

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