Cebuano/Bisayan is an extremely phonetic language, thus making it much more simple for non-Cebuano to learn and speak.
If one is familiar with Spanish, this makes Cebuano all the easier. Every Filipino dialect has similarities to Spanish (the Philippines having been conquered by the Spaniards and subsequently under Spanish rule for 300 years), and the pronunciation is nearly identical. Double "l"s in Cebuano are pronounced with a "y" sound, the "j" is typically spoken as "h", and the "r"s are rolled in the same way Spanish-speakers roll their "r"s.
The most common pronunciation mistake made by non-Cebuano speakers trying to learn the language is its double vowels. Take, for instance, the phrase for good evening:: "Maayong gabii". Most non-Filipinos would read that out loud as "mai-yong gabby". Not so. Every vowel in Filipino languages are pronounced, even when they are following another vowel. Thus, good evening would be "ma-ayong gabi-i".
; How are you? : Kumusta ka? ('' ?'') ; Fine, thank you. : Maayo, salamat. ('' '') ; What is your name? : Unsay imong pangalan?, Unsay ngalan mo? ('' ?'') ; My name is ______. : Ang akong pangalan mao si ______. ('' _____ .'') ; I am ______. : Ako si ______. ; Nice to meet you. : Maayo nga nagka-ila ta . ('''') ; Please. : Palihug. ('' '') ; Thank you. : Salamat. ('' '') ; You're welcome. : Walay sapayan. ('' '') ; Yes. : Oo. ('' '') ; No. : Dili. ('' '') ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Kadiyot lang. ('' '') ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Pasaylo-a ko. ('' '') ; I'm sorry. : Pasaylo-a ko. ('' '') ; Goodbye : Babay. ('' '') ; I can't speak ''name of language'' [well]. : Dili ko makasulti'g Cebuano[ ]. ('' [ ]'') ; Do you speak English? : Makasulti ka ug Iningles? ('' ?'') ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Naa bay makasulti ug Iningles diri? ('' ?'') ; Help! : Tabang! ('' !'') ; Look out! : Pagbantay! ('' !'') ; Good morning. : Maayong buntag. ('' '') ; Good afternoon. : (11:00 am to 12:59 pm) Maayong udto, (1:00 pm and onwards) Maayong hapon. ('' '') ; Good evening. : Maayong gabi-i. ('' '') ; Good night. : Maayong gabi-i. ('' '') ; I don't understand. : Dili ko makasabot. ('' '') ; Where is the toilet? : Asa dapit ang kasilyas? ('' ?'') ; I'm lost! : Nawala ko! ('' !'')
; Leave me alone! : Pasagda-i ko! ('' !'') ; Don't touch me! : Ayaw ko hilabti! ('' !'') ; Help! : Tabang! ('' !'') ; I need your help! : Kinahanglan ko ug tabang ninyo! ('' !'') ; Police! : Pulis! ('' !'') ; Call the police! : Tawag ug pulis! ('' !'') ; I'm lost. : Nasalaag ko. ('' !'') ; I'm tired : Gikapoy ko. ; I'm not feeling well. : Lain ang akong panglawas. ; I can't sleep. : Dili ko makatulog ; I can't eat. : Dili ko makakaon. ; I have a headache. : Sakit ang akong ulo, Labad ang akong ulo ; I'm hungry. : Gigutom ko. ; I'm thirsty. : Giuhaw ko. ; I ran out of money : Nahurot ang akong kwarta. ; I lost my bag. : Nawala ang akong bag. ; I lost my wallet. : Nawala ang akong pitaka. ('' '') ; I lost my cellphone. : Nawala ang akong cellphone. ('' '') ; Where's the nearest hospital? : Asa dapit ang pinakaduol na ospital? ('' ?'')
For numbers above 10, Spanish is more commonly used, though it spell phonetically. When using numbers with currency, Spanish notation commonly is used (e.g. P 5.00, in English, it says five pesos, but in Cebuano, it says ''singko pesos'').
; 1 : usa, uno ('' '') ; 2 : duha, dos ('' '') ; 3 : tulo, tres ('' '') ; 4 : upat, kuwatro ('' '') ; 5 : lima, singko ('' '') ; 6 : unom, says ('' '') ; 7 : pito, siyete ('' '') ; 8 : walo, otso ('' '') ; 9 : siyam, nuwebe ('' '') ; 10 : napulo, diyes ('' '') ; 11 : napulog-usa, onse ('' '') ; 12 : napulog-duha, dose ('' '') ; 13 : napulog-tulo, trese ('' '') ; 14 : napulog-upat, katorse ('' '') ; 15 : napulog-lima, kinse ('' '') ; 16 : napulog-unom, desisais ('' '') ; 17 : napulog-pito, desisiyete ('' '') ; 18 : napulog-walo, desiotso ('' '') ; 19 : napulog-siyam, desinuwebe ('' '') ; 20 : kawhaan, baynte ('' '') ; 21 : kawhaan ug uno, baynte uno ('' '') ; 30 : katloan, traynta ('' '') ; 40 : kwarenta ('' '') ; 50 : singkwenta ('' '') ; 60 : saysenta ('' '') ; 70 : setenta ('' '') ; 80 : otsenta ('' '') ; 90 : nubenta ('' '') ; 100 : usa ka gatos, siyento ('' '') ; 101 : usa ka gatos ug usa, siyento uno ('' '') ; 110 : usa ka gatos ug napulo, siyento diyes ('' '') ; 1000 : usa ka libo, mil ('' '') ; 10,000 : napulo ka libo, diyes mil ('' '') ; 100,000 : usa ka gatos ka libo, siyento mil ('' '')
For numbers 1,000,000 and above, use the American English notation.
; 1,000,000 : usa ka milyon ('' '') ; 1,000,000,000 : usa ka bilyon ('' '') ; 1,000,000,000,000 : usa ka trilyon ('' '')
; _____ seconds(s) : _____ ka segundo(s) ; _____ minute(s) : _____ ka minuto(s) (''...'') ; _____ hour(s) : _____ ka oras (''...'') ; _____ day(s) : _____ ka adlaw (''...'') ; _____ week(s) : _____ ka semana (''...'') ; _____ month(s) : _____ ka bulan (''...'') ; _____ year(s) : _____ ka tu-ig (''...'')
; today : karon ; yesterday : gahapon ; tomorrow : ugma ; this week : karong semana ; last week : niaging semana ; next week : sunod semana
The days of the week are borrowed from Spanish.
; Sunday : Dominggo ; Monday : Lunes (LOO-ness) ; Tuesday : Martes (MAR-tess) ; Wednesday : Miyerkoles (MEE-yer-koh-less) ; Thursday : Huwebes (HOOweh-bess) ; Friday : Biyernes (BEEyer-ness) ; Saturday : Sabado (SA-ba-do)
The name of the months are borrowed from Spanish laguage.
; January : Enero ('' '') ; February : Pebrero ('' '') ; March : Marso ('' '') ; April : Abril ('' '') ; May : Mayo ('' '') ; June : Hunyo ('' '') ; July : Hulyo ('' '') ; August : Agosto ('' '') ; September : Septyembre ('' '') ; October : Oktubre ('' '') ; November : Nobyembre ('' '') ; December : Disyembre ('' '')
Times are written as in English (as in 6:23 AM) but are spoken as in Spanish (as in ''alas says beynte tres sa buntag'').
; black : itum ('''...''') ; blue : asul ('''...''') ; brown : kape ('''...''') ; gold : bulawan ('''...''') ; green : berde ('''...''') ; gray : abuhun ('''...''') ; orange : orens ('''...''') ; pink : rosa ('''...''') ; red : pula ('''...''') ; violet : bayole ('''...''') ; white : puti ('''...''') ; yellow : dalag ('''...''')
Due to the nature of the country as being broken into many islands, Trains and Railways are not needed by the bulk of the population; rather turning to planes and ferries to complete longer journeys.
; How much is a ticket to _____? : Tagpila ning tiket padulong _____ ? ('' '') ; One ticket to _____, please. : Usa ka tiket padulong _____, palihug. ('' '') ; Where does this bus go? : Asa na padulong kining bus? ('' '') ; Where is the bus to _____? : Asa ang bus padulong _____ ? ('' '') ; Does this bus stop in _____? : Mohunong ba ning bus sa _____? ('' '') ; When does the bus for _____ leave? : Kanus-a molarga ang bus padulong _____? ('' '') ; When will this bus arrive in _____? : Kanus-a moabot ang bus sa _____? ('' '')
; Where is the _____? : Asa dapit ang _____? ('' '') ; street : dalan (''...'') ; Turn left. : Liko sa wala. (''...'') ; Turn right. : Liko sa tu-o. (''...'') ; left : wala (''...'') ; right : tu-o (''...'') ; straight ahead : adto deretso (''...'') ; towards the _____ : padulong sa _____ (''...'') ; past the _____ : lapas sa _____ (''...'') ; before the _____ : sa dili pa ang _____ (''...'') ; Watch out for the _____. : Pagbantay sa _____. (''...'') ; intersection : eskina (''...'') ; north : norte, amihanan (''...'') ; south : sur, habagatan (''...'') ; east : sidlakan (''...'') ; west : kasadpan (''...'') ; uphill : pasaka (sa buntod) (''...'') ; downhill : paubos (sa buntod) (''...'')
; Taxi! : Taksi! (''TAHK-see'') ; Take me to _____, please. : Dad-a ko sa_____, palihug. (''...'') ; I'm going to ____ : Mo-adto ko sa _____ (''...'') ; How much does it cost to get to _____? : Pila ang pliti padulong _____? (''...'') ; How much is the fare? : Pila ang pliti? ; Take me there, please. : Dad-a ko diha, palihug. (''...'')
When you hand your fare over to a driver or a conductor (the person who usually keeps on hanging on the jeepney rails), always say your origin, your destination, and how many are you with.
; Stop! (to get off the jeepney) : Lugar! (''...'') ; How much is the fare to _____? : Tagpila ang pliti padulong _____ (''...'') ; Sir (Driver), where's my change? : Manong, Asa ang akong sukli? (''...'') ; Sir (Driver), you have excess change. : Manong, sobra ang imong sukli. (''...'') ; Can you drop me off at ____? : Mahimo ba malugar sa ____? (''...'') ; Where are you from? : Asa ka gikan? (''...'') ; Where will you drop off? : Asa ka manaog? (''...'')
; Do you have any rooms available? : Naa moy kwarto na bakante? (''...'') ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : Tagpila ang room alang sa usa ka tawo/duha ka tawo? (''...'') ; Does the room come with... : Kining kwarto apil na ba ang ______ ? (''...'') ; ...bedsheets? : ...habol? (''...'') ; ...pillows? : ...unlan ; ...a bathroom? : ...banyo? (''BAHN-yoh'') ; ...a telephone? : ...telepono? (''te-LE-poh-NOH'') ; ...a TV? : ... TV? (''TV'') ; Can I see the room first? : Mahimo ba motan-aw sa inyong kwarto una? (''...'') ; Do you have anything quieter? : Naa pay mas hilom pa? (''...'') ; ...bigger? : ...mas dako? (''...'') ; ...cleaner? : ...mas limpyo? (''...'') ; ...cheaper? : ...mas barato? ('''') ; OK, I'll take it. : Sige, kuhaon nako. (''...'') ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : Mopuyo ko diri sa _____ ka gab-i. (''...'') ; Can you suggest another hotel? : Naa bay masugyut nimu nga laing hotel? (''...'') ; Do you have a safe? : Naa ba moy tipiganan sa salapi? (''...'') ; ...lockers? : ...armaryo,...mga locker? (''...'') ; Is breakfast/supper included? : Apil na ba ang pamahaw/panihapon? (''...'') ; What time is breakfast/lunch/supper? : Unsa ang oras sa pamahaw/paniudto/panihapon? (''...'') ; Please clean my room. : Palihug limpyoha ang akong kwarto. (''...'') ; Can you wake me up at _____ ( e.g. ten o'clock AM) ? : Mahimo ba pukawon ko sa _____(panganlit alas diyes sa buntag)? (''...'') ; I want to check out. : Gusto na ko mo-check-out. (''...''') ; Who's knocking the door? : Kinsa nagtuktok sa pultahan? ; Who's there? : Kinsa na? ; The toilet is not working. : Guba ang inidoro.
;Money : Kwarta ;Wallet : Pitaka ;How much is this/that? : Tag pila ni/na? (tug-pila-nee/nUH) ;How many? : Pila ka buok? (pi-lah-ka-bu-ok). ;I have no money. : Wala ko'y kwarta. (wa-lUH-koy-kwarta) ;Do you have money? : Naa ka'y kwarta? (na-a-kai-kwarta) ;Thief! : Kawatan! (ka-wa-tan) ;I was robbed. : Natulisan ko. (na-tu-li-san KO) ;I have ___ dollars/pesos. : Naa ko'y ___ dolyares. (na-ah-koy ___ DOU-li-ya-res/pe-sos) Note: You can use "dollars" instead of "dolyares." ;Give me my money. : Ambi ang akong kwarta. (am-bi-ang-akong-kwarta) ;Where is my/your wallet? : Asa ang akong/imohang pitaka? (asa-ang-akong/imo-hang-kwarta) ;That's expensive! : Mahala pud ana! (mahala-pud-a-nUH) ;That's really cheap! : Barato kaayo na! (barato-ka-ayo-nUH) ;Can you lower your price? : Mahimo ba i-ubos ang imohang presyo? (MA-hi-mo-ba ee-oo-bos ang i-mo-hang-pres-yo) ;I don't like this/that. : Dili ko ani/ana. (dee-lee-ko-ani/anUH) ;I like this/that. : Ganahan ko ani/ana. (ga-nahan-ko-anee/anUH)
; A table for one person/two people, please. : Lamisa alang sa usa/duha ka tao, palihug. (''...'') ; Can I look at the menu, please? : Mahimo ba motanw-aw sa menu, palihug? (''...'') ; Can I look in the kitchen? : Mahimo ba makakita ang kusina? (''...'') ; Where's the bathroom/washroom? : Asa dapit ang banyo/hugasanan? (''...'') ; Is there a house specialty? : Naa bay house specialty? (''...'') ; Is there a local specialty? : Naa bay local specialty? (''...'') ; I'm a vegetarian. : Vegetarian ko. (''...'') ; I don't eat pork. : Dili ko mokaon ug karneng baboy. ('''') ; I don't eat beef. : Dili ko mokaon ug karneng baka. (''...'') ; I only eat kosher food. : Mokaon ra ko ug sud-an nga kosher. (''...'') ; Can you make it "lite", please? (''less oil/butter/lard'') : Mahimo ba gamay lang ang mantika, palihug? (''...'') ; It's salty. : Parat ni. ; It's so sweet. : Tam-is ni. ; It's so spicy. : Halang-ni. ; fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (''...'') ; a la carte : a la carte (''...'') ; breakfast : pamahaw (''...'') ; lunch : paniudto (''...'') ; snack (''meal'') : snack (''...'') ; supper : panihapon (''...'') ; I want _____. : Gusto ko ug _____. (''GOOS-to koh'') ; I want a dish called _____. : Gusto ko ug sud-an nga _____. (''...'') ; chicken : manok (''chicken'') ; beef : karneng baka ('''') ; fish : isda (''is-DAH'') ; ham : hamon (''...'') ; food : pagkaon ; drinks : panginom ; sausage : longganisa (local sausage) (''...'') ; cheese : keso (''keh-soh'') ; eggs : itlog (''eet-LOG'') ; salad : ensalada (''...'') ; corn : mais ; (fresh) vegetables : (preskong) utan ('''') ; (fresh) fruit : (preskong) prutas (''proo-TAS'') ; bread : pan ('''') ; fastfood : fastfood ; toast : toast (''...'') ; noodles : noodles (''...'') ; rice : kan-on (''KA-nin'')/bugas (''bee-GAS'', used for uncooked rice) ; beans : beans (''...'') ; raw : hilaw (''HEElaw'') ; cooked : luto (''LOOto'') ; fried : prito/minantikaan ; fried chicken/fish/egg : pritong manok/isda/itlog ; grilled/roasted : inihaw ; boiled : nilaga ; salt : asin (''uh-SEEN'') ; sugar : asukar ; cooking oil : mantika (man-TEE-ka) ; garlic : ahos ; onion : sibuyas ; black pepper : paminta(''...'') ; soy sauce : toyo(''to-yo'') ; butter : margarina (''...'') ; Can/May I have a glass of _____? : Naa moy usa ka baso na _____? (''...'') ; Can/May I have a cup of _____? : Naa moy usa ka tasa na _____? (''...'') ; Can/May I have a bottle of _____? : Naa moy usa ka botelya na _____? (''...'') ; coffee : kape (''ka-FEH'') ; tea (''drink'') : tsaa (''cha-AH'') ; iced tea : iced tea (no direct translation) ; chocolate : tsokolate ; ice : yelo ; juice : juice (''...'') ; water : tubig (''TOO-BEEG'') ; beer : serbesa(''...'') ; red/white wine : red/white wine (''...'') ; dessert : panghimagas (''...'') ; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server''): Excuse me, waiter? (''...'') ; I'm finished/done. : Humana na ko ug kaon. ; It was delicious. : Lami ang pagkaon ; Please clear the plates. : Palihug kuhai ang mga plato. (''...'') ; Can I get the bill, please. : Mokuha ko ug bill, palihug. (''...'')
Most of the Philippine road signs are in English.
; I want to rent a car. : Gusto ko moabang ug awto. ('''') ; Can I get insurance? : Makuha ba nako ang insurance? (''...'') ; no parking : ginadili pagparada ('''') ; gas/petrol station : gasolinahan (''...'') ; gas/petrol : gasolina (''...'') ; diesel : diesel (''...'')