English → Bisaya · Expressions

Older brother (term of address)” in Bisaya: manoy

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “older brother (term of address)” is manoy, pronounced MA-noy. It's used as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

manoy

MA-noy

English meaning
older brother (term of address)
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce manoy

Say it as MA-noy. 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

  • Manoy, hatagi ko ug piso.

    Big bro, give me a peso.

Usage note

Used to address an older brother or any older male — also used in service contexts (e.g. calling a driver).

Related Bisaya words

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "older brother (term of address)" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "older brother (term of address)" is manoy, pronounced MA-noy.
How do you pronounce "manoy"?
Pronounce it as MA-noy. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "manoy" mean in English?
"manoy" means "older brother (term of address)" in English. It functions as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "manoy" in a sentence?
Example: "Manoy, hatagi ko ug piso." — Big bro, give me a peso.
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.