English → Bisaya · Descriptors

“Smart” in Bisaya: Hawod

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “smart” is Hawod, pronounced HAH-wohd. It's used as a adjective in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

Hawod

HAH-wohd

English meaning
Smart / Clever
Part of speech
adjective

How to pronounce Hawod

Say it as HAH-wohd. 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

  • Hawod siya sa math.

    “She's smart at math.”

Usage note

Implies skill and cleverness. 'Utokan' means 'brainy' specifically.

Synonyms and alternatives

You may also hear Utokan, Kuyaw as alternative ways to express “smart” in Bisaya.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "smart" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "smart" is Hawod, pronounced HAH-wohd.
How do you pronounce "Hawod"?
Pronounce it as HAH-wohd. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Hawod" mean in English?
"Hawod" means "Smart / Clever" in English. It functions as a adjective in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Hawod" in a sentence?
Example: "Hawod siya sa math." — She's smart at math.
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.

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