Say Some Basic Cebuano Words!

Do you want to know some Cebuano words? You might want to try using them on your visit to Cebu someday, or while studying English here! It would indeed be a fun experience for you to learn even just a bit of Cebuano language.

Here are three important basic words you can use.

EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE. SAY: “SALAMAT!” OR “DAGHANG SALAMAT!”

1.Salamat (Sa-la-mat) = Thank you.

It’s the shortened Cebuano version of “thank you” in English. In the Philippines, we normally address elders or anyone older than us as “kuya” or “ate.” “Kuya” is a term for the males, and “ate” for the females. If you know the person’s name, you speak or write it after the term. But if you don’t know the person’s name, nor if he or she is older than you, then simply say, “Salamat!”

You can try this after buying something, like from the “sari-sari” store, when someone in the jeepney passes on your fare to the jeepney driver, or in just about any situation wherein you want to say your thanks. In any way, Cebuanos will be surprised to hear you speaking their own tongue, even just a bit of it. ^_-

2.Daghang (Dag-hang) Salamat. = Thank you very (or “so”) much.

If you are very happy for what someone has done for you and would like to express it with a deeper gratitude, then you say, “Daghang salamat!”

APPRECIATE THE THANKS. SAY, “WA’Y SAPAYAN!”

3.Wa’y sapayan (Way sa-pa-yan) = You’re welcome.

Actually, “wa’y” is a condensed word of “walay.” The apostrophe (‘) is used before “a” and “y” to indicate that there are missing letters. (This is how it is done in English as well, usually in abbreviations. For example, the shortened form of “international” is “int’l.”)

We, Filipinos, are fond of making words shorter. But it’s definitely okay to use the full word.

Well, if you want to thank me for teaching you these Cebuano words, I would say, “Wa’y sapayan!”

Learning a little Cebuano won’t bother with your studies in English. You’ll just get a tinge of experience of Cebuano culture. Have fun using these words in Cebu!