English → Bisaya · Cultural Expressions
“Lest a curse befall (post-compliment)” in Bisaya: Puyra buyag
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “Lest a curse befall (post-compliment)” is Puyra buyag, pronounced POO-yah BOO-yahg. It's used as a phrase in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.
Bisaya translation
Puyra buyag
POO-yah BOO-yahg
- English meaning
- Lest a curse befall (post-compliment)
- Part of speech
- phrase
How to pronounce Puyra buyag
Say it as POO-yah BOO-yahg. 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
Tambok kaayo imong bata, no? Puyra buyag.
“Your baby is so chubby, isn't she? May no curse touch her.”
Cultural context
Said immediately after complimenting a child or anything precious — wards off the buyag, a folk illness believed to befall things admired too directly. Even non-superstitious Cebuanos say it reflexively.
Related Bisaya words
Frequently asked questions
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Is Bisaya the same as Cebuano?
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