English → Bisaya · Emergency

“Help!” in Bisaya: Tabang!

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “Help!” is Tabang!, pronounced TAH-bahng. 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

Tabang!

TAH-bahng

English meaning
Help!
Part of speech
interjection

How to pronounce Tabang!

Say it as TAH-bahng. 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

  • Tabang! Palihog tabang ko!

    “Help! Please help me!”

  • Kinahanglan ko'g tabang.

    “I need help.”

Usage note

Use in emergencies to get attention and assistance.

Related Bisaya words

Doktor

Doctor

DOK-tor

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "Help!" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "Help!" is Tabang!, pronounced TAH-bahng.
How do you pronounce "Tabang!"?
Pronounce it as TAH-bahng. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Tabang!" mean in English?
"Tabang!" means "Help!" in English. It functions as a interjection in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Tabang!" in a sentence?
Example: "Tabang! Palihog tabang ko!" — Help! Please help me!
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.

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