English → Bisaya · Expressions

“Watch out!” in Bisaya: hala

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “watch out!” is hala, pronounced HA-la. It's used as a interjection in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

hala

HA-la

English meaning
watch out! / uh-oh! / expression of warning or taunting
Part of speech
interjection

How to pronounce hala

Say it as HA-la. 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

  • Hala, mosumbong ko nimo!

    “Just you wait, I'll tell on you!”

Usage note

Context-dependent: can warn, taunt, or react with alarm. 'Hala ka!' means 'now you're in trouble'.

Related Bisaya words

sumbong

to report / to tell on someone / to complain to authority

SUM-bong

sus

expression of surprise, dismay, or mild shock

SUS

bantay

to watch over / to guard / to look after

BAN-tay

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "watch out!" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "watch out!" is hala, pronounced HA-la.
How do you pronounce "hala"?
Pronounce it as HA-la. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "hala" mean in English?
"hala" means "watch out! / uh-oh! / expression of warning or taunting" in English. It functions as a interjection in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "hala" in a sentence?
Example: "Hala, mosumbong ko nimo!" — Just you wait, I'll tell on you!
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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