Translate English to Cebuano
Cebuano (also called Bisaya or Visayan) is spoken by about 20 million people in the Philippines, primarily in Cebu, Bohol, eastern Negros, western Leyte, and parts of Mindanao. It is the second most spoken native language in the Philippines after Tagalog. Paste your English text above for a Cebuano translation.
Common English to Cebuano translations
| English | Cebuano | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Kumusta | koo-MOOS-tah | ||
| Good morning | Maayong buntag | mah-AH-yong boon-TAHG | ||
| Thank you | Salamat | sah-LAH-maht | ||
| Please | Palihog | pah-lee-HOG | ||
| How much is this? | Tagpila ni? | tahg-PEE-lah nee | ||
| Where is the bathroom? | Asa ang banyo? | AH-sah ahng BAHN-yoh | ||
| I do not understand | Wala ko kasabot | wah-LAH koh kah-SAH-bot | ||
| Can you help me? | Makatabang ka nako? | mah-kah-tah-BAHNG kah NAH-koh | ||
| I would like coffee | Gusto nako ug kape | GOOS-toh NAH-koh oog KAH-peh | ||
| The bill, please | Ang kuwenta, palihog | ahng koo-WEN-tah pah-lee-HOG | ||
| Nice to meet you | Nalipay ko nakakita nimo | nah-lee-PIE koh nah-kah-KEE-tah NEE-moh | ||
| Goodbye | Babay | bah-BYE | ||
| I need a doctor | Nagkinahanglan ko ug doktor | nahg-kee-nah-HAHNG-lahn koh oog dok-TOR | ||
| Excuse me | Pasensya na | pah-SEN-syah nah |
Tips for English to Cebuano translation
Cebuano uses a verb-first (VSO) word order, similar to Tagalog and Irish. “The child reads a book” becomes Nagbasa ang bata ug libro (reading the child a book). This order is rearranged to English SVO during translation.
Cebuano has a focus system where verb affixes indicate which part of the sentence is the topic. Mokaon ko (I will eat, actor focus) vs. Kaonon nako (I will eat it, object focus). Both translate similarly to English but carry different emphasis in Cebuano.
Cebuano vocabulary has been heavily influenced by Spanish (from 300+ years of colonial rule) and English. Words like kuwenta (bill, from Spanish cuenta), kusina (kitchen), and serbesa (beer) are standard Cebuano.
There is no formal/informal pronoun distinction in Cebuano. Ka (you, singular) and mo (your) are used in all contexts. Politeness is expressed through tone, word choice, and the particle po or ho (borrowed from Tagalog in some areas).
About the Cebuano language
Cebuano is an Austronesian language belonging to the Philippine subgroup. It is the most widely spoken Visayan language and the second most spoken native language in the Philippines. The language has a rich oral tradition and a growing body of written literature, though Tagalog and English dominate Philippine national media and government.
Cebu is the oldest Spanish colonial city in the Philippines and a major economic hub for the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The Cebuano-speaking diaspora is significant in the United States (especially California, Hawaii, and the Midwest), the Middle East, and across Asia. Cebuano Wikipedia is notable for having one of the largest article counts of any Wikipedia, thanks in part to automated article creation.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. No sign-up needed.
Yes. Cebuano is often called Bisaya (Visayan) in everyday speech. They refer to the same language.
Yes. Click the speaker icon.
No. They are related Philippine languages but not mutually intelligible. Each needs its own translator.
Good for everyday communication. Professional review for formal texts.
No. Standard Latin alphabet with no diacritics.
Visit our Cebuano to English page.
Yes.
About 20 million native speakers in the Philippines.
Over 60 pairs including Tagalog, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and more.
Need the reverse? Try Cebuano to English translation.
