How to Say “Sorry” in Bisaya: Pasayloa

How to pronounce Pasayloa

Say it as pah-sigh-LOH-ah. 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 “Sorry” in Bisaya

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

• Standard apologyPasayloa kopah-sahy-LOH-ah koh

  "Forgive me" — the direct, sincere Bisaya apology for actual mistakes

• Softer apologyPasensya napah-SEHN-syah nah

  "I'm sorry / please bear with me" — softer, from Spanish 'paciencia'; for minor inconveniences

• Formal forgivenessPatawadpah-TAH-wahd

  "Forgive me" — the most serious form; for genuine offenses where real forgiveness is needed

• Excuse me (passing)Tabi langTAH-bee lahng

  "Excuse me / coming through" — for navigating crowds or politely getting attention; NOT for apologies

• English loanwordSorrySOH-ree

  English 'sorry' borrowed directly — widely used by younger Cebuanos for minor situations

• Asking forgivenessPasayloa ko nimopah-sahy-LOH-ah koh NEE-moh

  "Please forgive me" with explicit 'nimo' (you) — slightly more personal and direct

Example sentences

• Accidentally bumping into or inconveniencing someone

  Ay, pasayloa ko. Dili ko tinuyo.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to.”

• Not understanding what was said

  Pasayloa ko, dili ko kasabot. Pwede ba i-usab?

  “Sorry, I don't understand. Can you say it again?”

• Arriving late to a meeting or appointment

  Pasensya na, naulahi ko.

  “Sorry, I was late.”

• Serious apology for a genuine error

  Patawad, sayop ko. Nasayop gyud ko.

  “Forgive me, I was wrong. I really made a mistake.”

• Light apology for forgetting something

  Sorry ha, nakalimtan nako.

  “Sorry, I forgot.”

• Navigating through a crowded space

  Tabi lang, tabi lang. Paisog lang ko.

  “Excuse me, excuse me. Just passing through.”

• Apologizing for breaking something

  Uy, pasayloa! Nabuak nako ang imong baso.

  “Oh, sorry! I broke your glass.”

How to respond to “Pasayloa”

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

• Okay ra. Walay lain.OH-kay rah. wah-LAHY lain

  “It's okay. No problem.”

  Standard acceptance of apology

• Sige ra, wala man to.SEE-geh rah, wah-LAH mahn toh

  “No worries, it was nothing.”

  Casual dismissal — it's truly fine

• Napasayloan ko nimo.nah-pah-sahy-LOH-ahn koh NEE-moh

  “You are forgiven.”

  Formal, sincere acceptance for a real offense

• Okay. Ayaw na hunahunaa.OH-kay. ah-YAW nah hoo-nah-hoo-NAH-ah

  “Okay. Don't think about it anymore.”

  Letting it go completely — the matter is closed

Cultural context

The Bisaya word 'pasayloa' comes from the root 'saylo' (to cross or to forgive) combined with the causative prefix 'pa-' and the request suffix '-a' — literally 'cause me to be forgiven' or 'please grant me forgiveness.' This etymology reveals how seriously apologies are framed in the language. Cebuano culture places great value on 'hiya' (social propriety and face), so offering a prompt, sincere apology after a mistake is the socially correct move — it preserves the relationship and restores harmony quickly. For minor infractions, a lighter 'Pasensya na' or the English loanword 'Sorry' is completely acceptable. For serious situations, 'Patawad' signals genuine remorse. One important practical note: 'Tabi lang' is not an apology — it's specifically for physical navigation ('excuse me, coming through') and should not be used to express remorse for a mistake.

“Sorry” across Visayan languages

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

• Cebuanopasaylo
• Hiligaynonpasayloha
• Waraypasaylua
• Kinaray-apasayloha
• Tausugmaaf

Related Bisaya words