English → Bisaya · Expressions
“Older sister (term of address)” in Bisaya: manay
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “older sister (term of address)” is manay, pronounced MA-nay. 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
manay
MA-nay
- English meaning
- older sister (term of address)
- Part of speech
- noun
How to pronounce manay
Say it as MA-nay. 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
Manay, luto ka na ba?
“Sis, have you cooked yet?”
Usage note
Used to address an older sister or older woman — respectful but familiar.
Related Bisaya words
Frequently asked questions
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