Some Useful Cebuano Words and Phrases
kanhiay
ancient; past
panahon
time; era
sa kanhiay nga panahon
in ancient times; in the olden days; a long time ago
duha
two
makagagahum
god; powerful being
nagpuyo
lived; resided in
langit
sky; the heavens
nahigugma
fell in love with
gipangasawa
married; wed; took as a wife
usa
one
adlaw
day
sama
similar; same
sagad
likely
mahitabo
to happen
sama sa sagad mahitabo
as would likely happen
magtiayon
couple; husband and wife
nagkabingkil
quarreled; had a spat
kasuko
anger
gihinginlan
drove away; told to go; banished
kahiubos
humiliation
sa dakung kahiubos
deeply humiliated
nibiya
left; departed
nahanaw
is gone; vanished
diyos/diyosa
god/goddess
kamingaw
loneliness; solitude; yearning
giabut ug kamingaw
got to be lonely; felt loneliness
nahiuknol
bothered by the thought of; worried
kahinanali
imprudence; haste; rash manner
nabuhat
that which has been done; deed
asawa
wife
bana
husband
ulahi
late; untimely
pasaylo
forgiveness; pardon
mangayo ug pasaylo
to ask to be forgiven
gilatas
scoured; trudged; traveled
tibuok
whole; entire
kalangitan
the skies; the heavens
mapalgi
to be found
aso
smoke; mist
aron
so; just so; in order to
mahupay
to be alleviated; to be assuaged
nagbasul
remorseful; repentant
nagmugna
created
kalibutan
the earth; the world
nagtanum
planted; sowed
kawayan
bamboo
hardin
garden
ngalan
name
ginganlan
named; called
humay
rice
mais
corn
tubo
sugar cane
kusog
fast; quick
nilambo/nitubo
grew; sprouted; flourished
nahimo
was made into; has become
maanindot
beautiful; pretty; nice
kahoy
tree
kansa
whose; which
goma
rubber
malagoma
rubber-like; pliant
bulos
stalk; branch
balahibo
feather; hair; fur
malabalahibo
feather-like; feathery
dahon
leaf
nagkawaykaway
fluttered; wafted
huyuhoy
breeze
hangin
wind; air
hinuyuhoy sa hangin
breeze
samtang
while; meantime
nagsud-ong
watched; viewed
kaanindot
beauty; splendor
gimbuhatan
creation
daku
big; large; great
kahimuot
happiness; satisfaction
gahum
power
gamhanan
powerful
pangagho
sigh; lament
unta kon
wishfully
ania
here
lamang
only
malipay
will be happy; will enjoy
gayud
certainly; for sure
magtan-aw
see; view; behold
matahum
beautiful; pretty; splendid
talan-awon
sight; view; scope
mamati
listen
kasikas
rustling sound
dahon
leaf
nipadayon
continued
labi pa
more so; even more so
matag adlaw
every day
unya
then; and so
usa ka hapon
one afternoon
hunahuna
a thought; an idea
misantop
took form; materialized
alimpatakan
intellect; mind
una
before; that which precedes
matugkad
to reach the depth of; to fathom
kadto
that; yonder
nakahunghong
whispered; got to whisper
kaugalingon
one's self
magmugna
will create
makaalima
will take care of; will nurture
wala damha
sudden; unexpected
sa wala damha
suddenly; unexpectedly
nasiak
split; broke apart
bahin
portion; part; share
nilutaw
emerged; took shape
tawo
person; man
unang tawo
the first person; the first man
pangalan
name
ginganlan
named; given the name of
nagkahulugan
meant; translated into
binuhat
creature
malig-on
strong; sturdy; tough
mao kini
this is why; for this reason
sukad niadto
thenceforth
kaliwat
progeny
ginatawag
called collectively; (singular, "gitawag")
sa laktud
for short; briefly
lain
different; other
katunga
half
laing katunga nga bahin
the other half (portion)
gabay
partner; colleague
nagtambayayong
worked together; cooperated
pagtagad
care; concern
sa laing bahin
in another part; on the other hand; meanwhile
halayo
far away; a faraway place
aron
in order to; so that
pagpangita
to search
gihangyo
asked; entreated; proposed to
magminyo
to get married
apan
but; however
nidumili
refused; denied
managsoon
siblings
masubsob
stern; uncompromising
pahimangno
reproach
pangatarungan
argument
kinahanglan
need
mobulig
to assist
pag-alima
care; nurture
gipiyal
entrusted
agalon
lord; master
manumbaling
to care; to mind
masayud
to know; to be aware of
matawo
to be born
bulos nga kawayan
bamboo stalk
buko
node
lambigit
to bind
sa ngadto-ngadto
eventually
panaglalis
argument; dispute
magpakitambag
to seek advice
tulingan
tuna fish
dagat
the sea
pati
dove
kahanginan
the air
motugot
to give consent
makumbinse
to be convinced
mokonsulta
to consult
linog
earthquake
kaminyoon
marriage
kalibutan
the world; the earth
matawhan
to be populated
una
first
sunod
next
usa
one
adlaw
day
kabus
poor; impoverished
mangingisda
fisherman
sayo
early
dagat
the sea
managat
to go fishing; to put out to sea
sagad
usual; frequent
buhat
work; occupation
adlaw
day
matag adlaw
every day; daily
hilabihan
extremely; very
dimalas
bad luck
buklad
cast (a net)
baling
fishing net
wala
nothing; none
wala'y lain kondili
nothing except
kuha
catch
agipo
a piece of charred firewood
tulo
three
tulo ka beses
three times; thrice
ilabay
to throw, to hurl
balik
back
bitad
pull; haul in
kasibot
interest; fascination
bisan pa man
despite; inspite of
kalagot
anger; disgust
dala
to take; to carry
gapnod
flotsam
gapnod nga kahoy
driftwood
pauli
to go home
pag-abut
arrival
maabtan; maabutan
to come upon
asawa
wife
magbulad
to put out to dry (in the sun)
palay
rice; grain
laguwerta
yard
itsa
to throw; to hurl
ngadto
toward; in the direction of
dason
simultaneously
hunghong
whisper
kaugalingon
one's self
kon
if
tinuod
true; authentic
ikaw
you (singular)
usa
one
anting-anting
amulet; charm
abir
"Let us see!"
bugaw
to scare away; shoo
langgam
bird
manok
chicken
gikan
from
dako
big; great
katingalahan
mystery; a puzzle
dakong katingalahan
"How strange!"
tuod
indeed
duol
to come near to; to approach
niana
that
gabii
night; evening
nianang pagkagabii; nianang gabhiona
that night
sulod
inside
ila
their
balay
house; home
kini
this
iya
his
biya
to leave behind
buot
mind
biyaan sa buot
to forget; to ignore
unya
then; eventually; subsequently
damgo
dream
makadamgo
to dream about
mahimo
to turn into; to become
estatuwa
statue
matahum
beautiful; pretty
bata
child
uho na man
indeed; true enough
mata
eye
magmata
to wake up
buntag
morning
masaksihan
to witness; to see
pagkabalhin
transformation; change
porma
form; shape
ingon
like; similar to
labay
to pass; to go by
adlaw
day
tin-aw
clear; distinct
hangtud
until
imahen
image
sama
like; similar to
karon
now; presently
panahon
time
karong panahona
at the present time
sa kanhiay nga mga tuig
many years ago
lusaran
foothills
bukid
mountain
kalipay
happiness
magpuyo
to live; to exist
adunahan
wealthy
magtiayon
couple
bugtong
lone; sole; the only one
anak
child
babaye
female
maanyag
pretty; beautiful
apan
but
mapahitas-on
arrogant; proud
hinawayon
mean
tapulan
lazy
ginganlan; gipanganlan;
gipangalanan
named
silingan
neighbor
makinaadmanon
wise; learned
kaluha
twins
manggiluy-on
compassionate; kind
magtubo
to grow
mapinanggaon
affectionate; loving
binuhat
creature
Diyos
God
palibut
surroundings; environment
matag adlaw
every day
moluhod
to kneel
moduko
to bow one's head
mangadye
to pray
madan-ag
bright; luminous
buntag
morning
magduwa
to play
hardin
garden
sa diha nga; sa diha'ng
when; at that instant
tigulang
old; aged; an old person
moagi
to come to pass; to pass by
magpakilimos
to beg for alms
mokuot
to dip in one's pocket or bag
bulsa
pocket
wala
not; none; nothing
mohinol
to feel with one's hand; to grope
gitangtang
removed; took off (an article of clothing)
kuwentas
necklace
perlas
pearl
mohatag
to give
makililimos
beggar; mendicant
mahimuot
to be pleased; to enjoy
buot
intend to do something
ilugon
to snatch away; to take forcibly
mobato
to hurl stone at
mosabyag
to spray water at
tubig
water
buhian
to set free; to release; to let go
hinuon
instead; on the other hand
masuk-anon
angrily
mosinggit
to shout
dawo
selfish; stingy
wa'y batasan
ill-mannered
dagiton
to snatch; to kidnap; to sieze and carry away
tun-an
to teach
hustong pamatasan
good manners
sa laing bahin
on the other hand
manggiluy-on
compassionate; kind
pagabaslan
to reward
ginikanan
parent
saysayan
to tell about
mahitabo
to come about; to take place; to happen
samtang
although; meanwhile
kauban
companion
engkanto
fairy
mabalhin
to change; to reform
pamatasan
accustomed ways; manners
labay
to sling; to hurl; to throw
kahoy
stick; wood
salawayon
mean; despicable
buhat
deed; work; handiwork
saad
to promise
hatag
to give
magbinuotan
to be good
gabii
night; evening
makadungog
to hear; to become aware of
tawag
call
magtuo
to believe
lakaw
to walk; to go
padulong
toward; in the direction of
gikan
from
tingog
voice; sound
padayon
to go on; to continue
hangtud
until
balay
house; home
higante
giant; ogre
malipay
to be happy; to be delighted
magkita
to meet
abi
conceivably; in one's mind
aduna
to be; to exist
sigurado
sure; certain
panihapon
supper; evening meal
magpakiluoy
to plead; to beg
asawa
wife
kaonon
to be eaten
duha
two
bata
child
bituon
star
magsugod
to start; to begin
matagak
to fall
gamay
little
gagmay
little (plural)
sundalo
soldier
kape
brown
mobutho
to emerge; to show up
maglinya
to fall in line
mobatok
to go against; to oppose
mahuman
to be finished; to be ended
mabalhin
to be changed; to be reformed
mahimo
to become; to be made into
manggiluy-on
compassionate; kind
manggiluy-on kaayo
very compassionate; very kind
malipay
to be happy
makauban
to be with; to be in one's company
usab
again
dagan
to run; to flee
peligro
danger; peril
huwas sa peligro
out of danger; safe
pinuy-anan
home
dawat
to receive
sabwag
to spread
yuta
ground; earth
isip
as
timailhan
symbol; marker
pagkamanggiluy-on
kindness; compassion
pagkamapahiubsanon
humility
bantok
hardened; compacted
kendi
candy
tsokolate
chocolate
tubo
to grow
bungtod
hill; mound
karon
now; at present
gibantog
known; famous
uwak
crow; raven
palit
to buy; to purchase
nindot
pretty; fine
kuwentas
necklace
gikan
from
ahente
agent; dealer; merchant
garbo
pride
mapagarbohon kaayo
very proud
alahas
piece of jewelry
sul-ob
to wear
liog
neck
makita
to be seen; to be displayed
kadaghanan
multitude; throng; the public
lupad
to fly
mahiabut
to reach; to arrive
hardin
garden
himamat
to meet by chance
karaan
old; ancient
higala
friend
himungaan
hen
parada
parade
sundan
to be followed; to be trailed
piso
chick
mahimo
to become; to be
hulam
to borrow
uli
to give back; to return
ugma
tomorrow
dayon
immediately
wala
not; none; nothing
palta
to fail
angay
should be; ought to be
hibaw-an
to be known; to mind
gusto
to like; to be fond of
langan
delay
walay langan
without delay; immediately
sulod
inside of; within
usa
one
adlaw
day
pagkaugma
the next day
balik
to return; to come back
maabtan
to find; to reach
kakha
to scratch
duol
near
pader
wall
asa
where
pangutana
a question; inquiry
mangutana
to ask; to inquire
mawani
to be lost; to be mislaid
tubag
reply
kuha
to take away; to remove
gahapon; kagahapon
yesterday
matulog
to sleep
dumdum
to remember
makahinumdum
to be able to remember
diin
where
butang
to put; to lay
tibuok
whole; entire
adlaw
day
pangita
to seek; to look for
makita
to be found; to be seen
kinahanglan
necessary
bayad
payback
bayran; bayaran
to be paid
kondili
else; otherwise
sumbong
to tell
hari
king
kawat
to steal
mahadlok
to fear; to be scared
dungog
to hear
mahingawa
to worry; to be concerned
unsaon
how
magpadulong
to head for; to be on the way to
pista
fiesta
magdali
to be in a hurry
mobungat
to declare
dagit
to snatch; to take away
matag adlaw
every day
utang
debt
makit-an
to be found
hatag
to give
dason
subsequently
hunong
to stop; to cease
kaon
to eat
mosugot
to agree; to give one's consent
kasabutan
agreement; pact
lakip
including
padayon
to continue; to go on
lukat
to redeem
alahas
piece of jewelry
pinaagi
by means of
ginaingon
it is said; it is so
manok
chicken