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How to Say “No” in Bisaya: Dili

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “No” is Dili, pronounced DEE-lee. It's used as a adverb in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

Dili

DEE-lee

English meaning: No / Not
Part of speech: adverb

How to pronounce Dili

Say it as DEE-lee. 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.

Common Variations of “No” in Bisaya

There are several ways to express this in Bisaya depending on context, formality, and who you are speaking to.

Standard (for actions/intentions)DiliDEE-lee
"No / not" for actions, intentions, and qualities — 'Dili ko gusto' (I don't want)
No (for existence/possession)Walawah-LAH
"None / there isn't / I don't have" — 'Wala ko'y kwarta' (I have no money)
Emphatic noDili gyudDEE-lee joohd
"Absolutely not / definitely no" — 'gyud' adds finality and conviction
Polite declineDili ko, salamatDEE-lee koh, sah-LAH-maht
"No, thank you" — the standard polite refusal; 'salamat' softens the decline
Soft / indirect noAmbotAHM-boht
"Who knows / I'm not sure" — used to softly avoid saying no directly
Imperative noAyawah-YAW
"Don't / stop that" — for stopping an action or refusing emphatically

Example sentences

Declining something directly
Dili ko gusto.
“I don't want to.”
Politely refusing food
Dili, salamat. Busog pa ko.
“No, thank you. I'm still full.”
Firm, emphatic refusal
Dili gyud ko! Dili ako mosugot.
“Absolutely not! I won't agree.”
Stating non-possession (wala, not dili)
Wala ko'y kwarta karon.
“I have no money right now.”
Stating absence (wala, not dili)
Wala siya diri. Wala na siya.
“He/she is not here. He/she is already gone.”
Stopping someone from doing something dangerous
Ayaw! Makadaot ka!
“Don't! You'll get hurt!”
Soft indirect no — leaving the door open but probably declining
Ambot. Tan-awon pa nako.
“Hmm, who knows. Let me think about it.”

How to respond to “Dili”

When someone says “Dili” to you, here are the most common replies native speakers use:

Okay ra. Sabton ko.OH-kay rah. sah-BOH-ohn koh
“That's fine. I understand.”
Gracefully accepting the refusal
Sige, lain na lang.SEE-geh, lain nah lahng
“Okay, let's try something else.”
Moving on after a no
Okay. Salamat sa pagsinultian.OH-kay. sah-LAH-maht sah pahg-see-nool-tee-AHN
“Okay. Thanks for telling me.”
Polite acceptance of a declined request

Cultural context

Bisaya has two distinct words for 'no' that serve fundamentally different purposes, and confusing them is one of the most common learner errors. 'Dili' negates actions, intentions, and qualities ('Dili ko mokaon' — I won't eat). 'Wala' negates existence and possession ('Wala ko'y pagkaon' — I have no food). Getting this right marks the difference between a beginner and an intermediate speaker. Beyond grammar, Cebuano culture tends toward indirect refusals in social situations — a blunt 'Dili' can feel harsh when declining an invitation or social request. Softer signals like 'Ambot' (who knows / I'm not sure), 'Tan-awon pa nato' (let's see), or simply not answering are culturally recognized as polite 'no' signals. This indirectness is rooted in 'hiya' (maintaining social harmony and face for both parties).

Usage note

Used for negation. Different from Tagalog 'hindi'.

“No” across Visayan languages

Bisaya is part of a larger family. Here's how the same word appears in five major Visayan languages:

Cebuanodili
Hiligaynonindi
Waraydiri
Kinaray-aindi
Tausugdi

Compare more words across Visayan languages

Related Bisaya words

Yes

oh-OH

Wala

None / Nothing / Don't have

wah-LAH

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "No" in Bisaya?

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "No" is Dili, pronounced DEE-lee.

How do you pronounce "Dili"?

Pronounce it as DEE-lee. Capitalized syllables indicate the stressed part of the word.

What does "Dili" mean in English?

"Dili" means "No / Not" in English. It functions as a adverb in everyday Cebuano conversation.

How do you use "Dili" in a sentence?

Example: "Dili ko gusto." — I don't want.

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.

What is the difference between 'Dili' and 'Wala' in Bisaya?

This is one of the most important distinctions in Bisaya. 'Dili' negates actions and intentions: 'Dili ko mokaon' (I won't eat). 'Wala' negates existence and possession: 'Wala ko'y pagkaon' (I have no food). Think of 'dili' as 'don't / won't / not going to' and 'wala' as 'there isn't / I don't have.' Getting this right will immediately improve the quality of your Bisaya.

How do you say 'no thank you' politely in Bisaya?

Say 'Dili ko, salamat' (No, thank you) — the 'salamat' softens the refusal significantly. Adding a smile makes it completely gracious. For food offers especially, Cebuanos often decline once or twice ('Dili, sige ra') before accepting on the second or third offer, as immediately accepting can seem too eager.

Why do Cebuanos sometimes avoid saying 'Dili' directly?

Direct refusals can feel blunt in Cebuano culture, where maintaining 'hiya' (social harmony and face) is important. A soft 'Ambot' (who knows / I'm not sure), 'Tan-awon pa nato' (let's see), or simply redirecting the conversation is a common indirect way to decline — especially for social invitations. Pay attention to these signals: they usually mean no.

Continue learning Bisaya

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

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