Romancenoun
Uyab
OO-yahb
Englishboyfriend / girlfriend / partner
Word of the Day · Thursday, July 2, 2026
Uyab — Bisaya Word of the Day for July 2, 2026
Origin & Etymology
"Uyab" is gender-neutral, just like "asawa" — the same word covers a boyfriend or girlfriend, with the distinguishing feature from "asawa" being that an "uyab" relationship isn't (yet) formalized by marriage.
How Bisaya Speakers Use It
"Naa ba ka'y uyab?" (do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?) is one of the most common icebreaker/teasing questions among Filipino youth and relatives alike, sometimes to the point of being an unwelcome running joke at family gatherings.
Example Sentences
Asking about someone's relationship status
Naa na ba ka'y uyab karon?
“Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend now?”
Describing a date
Nagsuroy si Nena ug iyang uyab sa mall.
“Nena went out with her boyfriend at the mall.”
Talking about a breakup
Nabuwag sila sa ilang uyab human sa tulo ka tuig.
“They broke up with their partner after three years.”
Test Your Knowledge
Quick Quiz
What is the main distinction between "uyab" and "asawa"?
Related Bisaya Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Uyab" mean in Bisaya?
"Uyab" means "boyfriend / girlfriend / partner" in Bisaya/Cebuano. It is a noun in the Romance category, pronounced as "OO-yahb".
How do you pronounce "Uyab" in Cebuano?
"Uyab" is pronounced "OO-yahb". The stressed syllable is indicated by capital letters in the phonetic guide.
How do you use "Uyab" in a Bisaya sentence?
Example: "Naa na ba ka'y uyab karon?" — "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend now?". "Naa ba ka'y uyab?" (do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?) is one of the most common icebreaker/teasing questions among Filipino youth and relatives alike, sometimes to the point of being an unwelcome running joke at family gatherings.
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