English → Bisaya · Food

“Adobo — meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic” in Bisaya: adobo

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “adobo — meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic” is adobo, pronounced a-DO-bo. It's used as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

adobo

a-DO-bo

English meaning
adobo — meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce adobo

Say it as a-DO-bo. Capitalized syllables in the pronunciation guide indicate stress — the part of the word you emphasize when speaking. Bisaya stress is meaningful: putting it on the wrong syllable can change the meaning of a word, so it's worth practicing out loud.

Example sentences

  • Lami kaayo ang adobo ni mama.

    “Mom's adobo is so delicious.”

Cultural context

Adobo is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. Every family has their own secret recipe.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "adobo — meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "adobo — meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic" is adobo, pronounced a-DO-bo.
How do you pronounce "adobo"?
Pronounce it as a-DO-bo. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "adobo" mean in English?
"adobo" means "adobo — meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic" in English. It functions as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "adobo" in a sentence?
Example: "Lami kaayo ang adobo ni mama." — Mom's adobo is so delicious.
Is Bisaya the same as Cebuano?
Yes — Bisaya and Cebuano are two names for the same language. Cebuano is the more formal linguistic name, while Bisaya is the everyday name used by speakers themselves. Both refer to the language spoken by 22+ million Filipinos. Read more in our Bisaya vs Binisaya guide.

Continue learning Bisaya

More than just translations.

Browse the full Bisaya dictionary, compare words across all five Visayan languages, or jump into our beginner's guide.

All translationsBrowse dictionaryCompare Visayan