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How to Say “Merry christmas” in Bisaya: Maayong Pasko
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “merry christmas” is Maayong Pasko, pronounced mah-AH-yong PAHS-koh. 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
Maayong Pasko
mah-AH-yong PAHS-koh
- English meaning
- Merry Christmas
- Part of speech
- phrase
How to pronounce Maayong Pasko
Say it as mah-AH-yong PAHS-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
Maayong Pasko sa inyo tanan!
“Merry Christmas to all of you!”
Maayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig!
“Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!”
Bag-o pa lang akong nakita nimo — Maayong Pasko!
“First time I've seen you — Merry Christmas!”
Cultural context
The Philippines has the world's longest Christmas season — decorations go up in September and carols start playing on September 1. In Cebu, the Sinulog Festival (January) extends the festive season even further. 'Maayong Pasko' is heard everywhere from September through January.
Usage note
The universal Bisaya Christmas greeting. 'Pasko' comes from Spanish 'Pascua' (Easter/Christmas). The full festive version is 'Maayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig' — Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Common phrases using Maayong Pasko
- Maayong Pasko!·Merry Christmas!
- Bulahang Pasko!·Blessed Christmas!
- Maligayang Pasko!·Happy Christmas! (Tagalog-borrowed, widely understood)
Synonyms and alternatives
You may also hear Bulahang Pasko, Malipayong Pasko as alternative ways to express “merry christmas” in Bisaya.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "merry christmas" in Bisaya?
How do you pronounce "Maayong Pasko"?
What does "Maayong Pasko" mean in English?
How do you use "Maayong Pasko" in a sentence?
Is Bisaya the same as Cebuano?
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