Learning Bisaya 101 the Easy Way

Hello and good day! It has been a long time since I shared stories and insights with you. I also miss reading things here like sports, politics, and culture as well. I really had been so busy in school and at our local house church. I am so sorry. I was not able to support my daughter too because-- DUTY CALLS. Anyway, she is quite old and I know she would understand. Haha!

Image Source: https://themindblower96.wordpress.com/2015/05/21/54/

Basically, Bisaya is the language spoken by the people in some parts of Mindanao and Visayas. There are certainly a lot of varieties of Bisayan dialect. Anyway, let me share with you how to speak in Bisaya, like how Kagay-anons (people from Cagayan de Oro City) do. I promise, this is just very easy. It is also noteworthy that we speak in and write in phonetic manner unlike other dialect and languages. We do not speak in such slang way or with an accent.

Greetings

Image Source: http://www.travelfoodfashion.com/indonesian-greetings-words/
When you meet people in our area, it is really important to greet one or them nicely. Here are some of the examples that I would like to share to you:

Morning
Good morning = Maayong (good/ great) buntag (morning) = Maayong buntag.
Good morning to all = Maayong buntag kaninyong tanan (to you all) = Maayong buntag kaninyong tanan.
Good morning my friend Maayong buntag higala (friend)= Maayong buntag higala
or it could be, Maayong buntag amigo

Noon time
Good noon= Maayong udto (noon) = Maayong udto
You can also use again the words/ phrases higala (friend) and kaninyong tanan (to you all). You can also use the phrase sa inyong tanan which means to all of you.

Evening
Good evening - Maayong gabi-i/ gabi-e (evening)

Image Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/isabellelaureta/honey-my-love-so-sweet?utm_term=.qvKj0vOnW#.rvYeg7VdP

Endearments

Bisaya are known to some as sweet and loving people (and fierce at some point haha) that is why no wonder some people fall in love with a bisaya. If you are looking for a partner in life and got a chance to be with a bisaya, these words are really important to make conversations sweeter.

Love - Pangga/ Palangga
Wife- Asawa
Husband- Bana
Boyfriend/ Girlfriend - Uyab (if it is not that sweet) and Trato (if you are both intimate with each other.

Oftentimes, people use those words but add another word which is nako. When used, it meant that it is yours. For example, pangga nako, trato nako.

Kaayo can also be used when you want to make your sentence extreme. For example, gihigugma kaayo tika which means I love you so much.

Since I have shared with you some endearments, let us go all the way. Now, how would you express your feelings to someone aside from your actions? Well, through saying or writing. Here are some of useful phrases.

I love you - Palangga tika/ Pangga tika/ Gipalangga tika/ Gihigugma tika.
You can basically choose which of these are easy to use.
You should be with me- Diri (Here) ra ka (you) sa (at) akoa (me).
Please do not leave me- Palihog (please) ayaw (do not) ko (me) byai (leave)
As you can observe, a sentenced when spoken could not be translated unlike the other languages. The sentence has its own rules and unique structure.
I like you - Ganahan (like) ko(me) nimo (you).
I like you so much - Ganahan kaayo (*much) nimo.

Image Source: http://www.gimme-shelter.com/appreciation-50010/

Now, let us talk about how to appreciate one person. Here are some of my examples:

You are beautiful - Gwapa (beautiful) ka (you)
You are very beautiful - Gwapa kaayo (very) ka.
You are good in singing - Maayo ka mukanta (sing)/ Chada (good) ka mukanta.
You are good in dancing - Maayo ka musayawa (dance)
Are you mad at me- Nasuko (got mard) ka sa akoa (me) ?

Image Source: https://betanews.com/2015/04/23/send-google-maps-directions-to-phone/

Directions and other questions

When travelling to our area, people can actually understand English and Tagalog, but if you want to be close with the locals, you can try speaking our dialect.

Where

Where is the ____? - Asa(where) ang (the) _____?
Where can I find the ___? - Asa nako makita (see) ang _____?
Where is the comfort room? - Asa ang banyo?
Where are you going? - Aha ka paingon (going)?

Who

Who are you? - Kinsa (who) ka (you) ?
As you observe, we do not have a linking verb for that.
Who are you with? - Kinsa imong (you) kauban (company)?
Who did this? - Kinsay nagbuhat (made) ani (this)?

What

What did you say? - Unsa (what) imong giingon (said)?
What are you eating? - Unsa imong gakaonon (eating)?

How

How did you do that? - Gi-unsa (how) na nimo?
How are you? - Naunsa naman ka?

Why

Why are you sad? - Ngano (why) naghinambid (action made when someone is sad) ka>
Why did we ran out of love? - Nganong nahutdan naman tag paghigugma?
Why are you like that? - Ngano ka inga-ana (that)?

Bonus Phrase: Have you ____?
Have you eaten? - Nikaon na ka?
Have you fallen in love with you? - Nahigugma ba ka sa akoa?

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Phrases you can use when you have negative feelings to others

I am angry at you - Nasuko (got angry) ko nimo (at you).
I do not want you anymore - Dili (not) nako nimo.
You are ugly. - Pangit (ugly) ka.
I hate you - Dili ko nimo.

As you have read, unlike Tagalog, people in our area do not use the word po or opo to emphasize respect. So if you feel like you had been disrespected by a younger colleague or local, remember that in our dialect, the word is not being used.

That's just for now folks! I hope you enjoyed learning our vernacular. If you have questions or comments, feel free to comment down below. I would then love to have a fun and healthy discussion with you. You can also share some words to everyone as well. Have a great day and steem on! Thank you for reading.