Learn How To Speak Cebuano

Speaking Bisaya

I remembered my teacher in grade I, Ms. Mangubat, assigning me as the person listing down any student speaking the Cebuano dialect. My list was titled Speaking Bisaya. For every time you get caught speaking Cebuano you get to pay 5 centavos per word.

On the other hand as a traveller it pays to be familiar with the local dialect. So as not to be, as the locals jokingly call it... “ibaligya” meaning you can be sold without you knowing it.

Here are some of the most common expressions and important Cebuano Phrases that may come in handy:

I, Me - Ako.

You - Ikaw.

All, Everbody - Tanan.
Brother - Kuya.
Sister - Ate.
Uncle - Tiyo

Aunt -Tiya
Grandfather - Lolo.
Grandmother - lola.

Good morning maayong buntag
Good day maayong adlaw
Good afternoon maayong hapon

Good evening maayong gabii

Let's eat - Mangaon ta.
Its very expensive - Kamahal.
Its cheap - Kabarato.
Good - Maayo.
That's not Good - Dila na maayo.
Beautiful - Gwapa.

Handsome - Gwapo.
You’re so handsome - Kagwapo nimo.
You’re so beautiful - Kagwapa nimo.

Which bus for Cebu? Unsay sakyan nga bus padung Cebu?
Where is the bus stop? Asa man ta mag atang sa bus?
Where do I catch a jeepney? Asa ko musakay ug jeepney?
Where does this bus go? Asa man ni padolong ang bus?
Where do I get off? Asa ko manaog?
How much is the fare? Tagpila ang plete?

What is your name? - Unsa imong pangalan?
How old are you? - Pila imong edad?
Where do you live? - Asa ka nagpuyo?
What are you doing? - Unsa imong gibuhat?

Where is your restroom- Asa inyong CR?

I don't understand. - Wala ko kasabot.

Can you understand English? - Makasabot ka ug Ininglis? or 'Kasabot ka ug English?

Please say it in English. - Palihug Ininglisa lang. or English lang Palihug.

Please. - Palihug.

Thanks. -Salamat.

Speak slowly please. - Hinaya'g sulti palihug.

Sorry. - pasayloa ko

Yes. - O.

No. - Dilì or Dì

Maybe. - Tingali.

For a while. - Kadalì sà... or Kadiyot sà...

Wait. - Huwat...

I don't know. - Wala ko kahibaw..

What took you so long? - Nganong nadugay man ka?

You're too early! - Sayoha sad nimo uy!

Cebu Cebu!

When travelling to Cebu, for the very first time , there are important facts you need to know. Gathering these information ahead of time will help you enjoy a hassle free stay in the Queen City of the south. If you are travelling from a foreign country or travelling locally, after preparing your travel documents and just before making reservations, it would help to visit your travel guide or gather the information online. Knowing more details about Cebu City will help you in making important choices and travel decisions.

Whenever you visit our beautiful city may it be for business or for leisure make sure you get your facts straight from your Cebu master guide:

Getting to Cebu by Air –

There are several flights daily from the country’s capital, Manila to Cebu. Although they say that it will take you 1 hour and 20 minutes to get here, flying time is about one hour. You have a choice of the following airline carriers:

Cebu Pacific - http://www.cebupacificair.com/

Phillipine Airlines http://www.philippineairlines.com/home/home.jsp

Zest Air http://www.zestair.com.ph/

Air Philippines http://www.airphilexpress.com/

NOTE: Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, the two leading airlines, have direct flights from international locations. There are also several international flights from different carriers direct to Cebu. For those travelling from abroad you may also check your airlines if they have direct flights to the Mactan International Airport (MIA).

By sea, Cebu is a 22 hours-sailing time from our capital city, Manila. Cebu is also the shipping hub of the Philippines. The number of shipping companies and agents in Cebu City and the number of ships at the dock is quite incredible. You may come to cebu through overnight boats or conveniently through fast sea crafts to get you to or from other beautiful destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Oceanjet http://www.oceanjet.net/

SuperCat http://www.supercat.com.ph/

Weesam http://www.zimnet.com/weesam/php/booking.php

TIPS: These fast crafts often have ongoing promotions if you book your tickets days in advance. If you can score some tickets online you can get promo’s like low fares or getting your return ticket for free... However if you book your tickets on the day, cost per ticket will be on the high end

Where to stay in Cebu:

There are so many resort hotels in and around Cebu City. In Mactan, Where the Airport is located, you can have a choice of breach resort hotels and inland hotels. If you are more of an action person then any of the Cebu City hotels would be good for you.. Its close to where the action is.

However, if you would still want to enjoy Cebu City on a shoestring budget, here are the not so expensive accommodations in the heart of Cebu City:

Crowne Garden Hotel
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Tel. (63-32) 412-7517, 412-7759, 231-3036, 231-3773, 231-0772
email@crownegardenhotel.com
www.crownegardenhotel.com

Metro Park Hotel
Saint Lawrence St., Lahug, Cebu City
Tel #: (063) (032) 233-2352, 233-3883, 233-3887, 233-3677, 233-0130
email@metroparkhotelcebu.com
www.metroparkhotelcebu.com

Golden Valley Hotel
155A Pelaez Street
Cebu City, 6000
Tel No. (6332) 253-8660
Fax No. (6332) 253-8482
www.goldenvalleyhotel.net

And for budget pension houses I will suggest:

YES Pension House
Junquera St. Cebu City, 6000
Philippines

Tel nos.: 63-32-254-6277, 63-32-266-0656

http://wikimapia.org/2499552/Yes-Pension

La Guardia Hotel
Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City
Tel. #: (63-32) 416-7889, 416-7881, 416-7787, 416-7788
email@laguardiahotelcebu.com
www.laguardiahotel.com

Wherever you stay here in Cebu City tipping is a common practice. Whenever you feel like it, you can always tip the waiters, massage therapist, taxi drivers, bellhops, hairdressers, beauticians, guides and porters.

Standard electricity voltage anywhere you stay in Cebu City is of 220 volts. So make sure you bring a hair dryer, phone charger or any other gadget of that voltage.

Next to Cebuano, our dialect, English is commonly spoken when talking with market vendors, taxi drivers, merchants and most of the people you meet in the streets. If you are a native English speaker from the US, England and Australia, it would help to speak a bit louder and just a bit slower than usual. If English is not your native language you may want to brush up with your English speaking skills.