How to Say “Yes” in Bisaya: Oo

How to pronounce Oo

Say it as oh-OH. 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 “Yes” in Bisaya

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

• StandardOooh-OH

  The direct Bisaya yes — clear, simple, and works in nearly all situations

• EmphaticOo gyudoh-OH joohd

  "Yes, definitely / absolutely yes" — 'gyud' adds conviction and enthusiasm

• Casual agreementSigeSEE-geh

  "Okay / sure" — functions as a casual yes, especially agreeing to plans

• ConfirmingOo, maooh-OH, mah-OH

  "Yes, that's right / exactly" — used to confirm that something is correct

• Polite (elders)Opooh-POH

  Respectful yes — borrowed from Tagalog but widely used in Cebu with elders

• ReluctantOo naoh-OH nah

  "Okay, fine / yes, alright" — a slightly exasperated or resigned yes

Example sentences

• Confirming someone is right

  Oo, sakto ka.

  “Yes, you're correct.”

• Enthusiastic agreement

  Oo gyud! Ganahan kaayo ko!

  “Yes, definitely! I love it!”

• Confirming something specific

  Oo, mao 'to. Tama ka.

  “Yes, that's it. You're right.”

• Respectful yes to an elder

  Opo, lola. Makaduaw ko ugma.

  “Yes, grandma. I'll visit tomorrow.”

• Reluctant yes after being persuaded

  Oo na, sige na. Mouban na ko.

  “Okay fine, alright. I'll come along.”

• Answering a phone call or door

  Oo? Kinsa?

  “Yes? Who is it?”

• Agreeing to an invitation casually

  Sige, mokaon ko. Gutom na ko.

  “Sure, I'll eat. I'm hungry.”

How to respond to “Oo”

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

• Salamat sa pagtuo.sah-LAH-maht sah pahg-TOO-oh

  “Thank you for agreeing.”

  When someone agrees to help or join

• Okay, sige. Mag-imbitar ko nimo.OH-kay, SEE-geh. mahg-eem-bee-TAHR koh NEE-moh

  “Okay, sure. I'll invite you.”

  Following up on an agreement

Cultural context

Bisaya encodes a politeness register directly into how you say yes. 'Oo' to a peer or younger person is perfectly natural and clear. But saying 'Oo' to a grandparent or elder in some families can sound abrupt — many Cebuano households have adopted 'Opo' (from Tagalog) as the respectful yes with elders. The emphatic 'Oo gyud!' is a signature Bisaya expression that makes native speakers smile when foreigners use it — the word 'gyud' (really/definitely) is deeply Cebuano and has no equivalent in Tagalog. 'Sige' functions as a casual yes in most conversational contexts — if someone asks 'Mokaon ka?' (Will you eat?), 'Sige' is actually more natural than 'Oo' as a reply. Learning when to use 'Oo,' 'Sige,' and 'Opo' is one of the first social intelligence markers in Bisaya.

“Yes” across Visayan languages

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

• Cebuanooo
• Hiligaynonhuo
• Warayoo
• Kinaray-ahuo
• Tausughuun

Related Bisaya words