English → Bisaya · Cultural Expressions
“God forbid” in Bisaya: Simbako
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “God forbid” is Simbako, pronounced seem-BAH-koh. It's used as a interjection in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.
Bisaya translation
Simbako
seem-BAH-koh
- English meaning
- God forbid
- Part of speech
- interjection
How to pronounce Simbako
Say it as seem-BAH-koh. 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
Simbako! Ayaw na'g sultiha.
“God forbid! Don't even say it.”
Cultural context
A short, sharp prayer-as-interjection. Said when someone mentions something terrible — a verbal flick to push the possibility away. Cebuanos believe naming bad things gives them weight.
Related Bisaya words
Frequently asked questions
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