i
CEBUANO PHONETICS AND ORTHOGRAPHY1
EXORDIUM
The Cebuano language, also known as Sinugbuanon, is one of the major languages in the Philippines. It is spoken
by more than 20,000,000 people,2 not only Cebu, but in Bohol, Negros Oriental, western parts of Leyte, some areas in
Samar, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Biliran islands, southern part of Masbate, and in the regions of Mindanao as well.
Though classified as dialect of the Bisayan or Visayan Language (also called Binisaya) along with Hiligaynon and Waray
languages, but it is spoken nationwide and heard otherwhere.
Cebuano belongs to the Western or Indonesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages, formerly known as
the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages, one of the world’s largest language groups.
Its derivation is from Cebu or Sugbu. Sugbu means "to wade" through the waters in the bayou or "suba." It is said
that the early settlers in Cebu lived near the bayou and were known as "Taga-Suba" or "Suban-on"; hence, the name
Sugbuanon.
Sinugbuanon refers to the language; Sugbuanon adverts to its native or inhabitant. Both are alluded to as Cebuano.
ALPHABET
During the pre-Hispanic colonization, the Cebuano language had only three vowels, namely: a, i, and u.3 With the
adoption of some Spanish, English, and other foreign words, it expanded to five to include e and o.4 In current usance,
there are five (5) vowels: a, e, i, o, and u along with fifteen (15) consonants: b, k, d, g, h, l, m, n, ng, p, r, s, t, w, and y.
Graphemes:
Phonemes:
Aa
[a]
Bb
[b]
Kk
[k]
Dd
[d]
Ee
[Оµ]
Gg
[g]
Hh
[h]
Ii
[i]
Ll
[l]
Mm
[m]
N n Ng ng O o
[n] [Е‹] [o]
Pp
[p]
Rr
[r]
Ss
[s]
T t
[t]
Uu
[u]
Ww Yy
[w] [y]
There are foreign words, however, that are unavoidably used in the language, especially those without appropriate
transliteration. For this reason, foreign letters may be utilized, such as: Cc, Ff, Jj, Ññ, Qq, Vv, Xx, and Zz,5 but not forming
integral parts of the native alphabet. In the counting or numbering of letters, these shall be added to the original or native
alphabet.6
ORGANS OF SPEECH
The organs of speech in Cebuano are the tongue, glottis, palate, lips, and nose.
The letters sounded through:
1. The lips are B, P, and M (Ba, Pa, ug Ma).
2. The palate are L and R (La ug Ra).
3. The tongue and the palate are D, T, and N. (Da, Ta, ug Na).
4. The glottis are K, G, and Y (Ka, Ga, ug Ya).
5. The teeth is S (Sa).
6. The glottis with blowing of air is H (Ha).
7. The glottis and the nose is Ng (Nga).
8. The closed lips, then opened, is W (Wa).
Sound -1. Vowels:
[ a ] is pronounced with unrounded open front similar to English “far.”
[ ε ] is pronounced with unrounded open mid-front similar to English “red.”
[ i ] is pronounced with unrounded close front similar to English “tin.”
[ o ] is pronounced with rounded close mid-back similar to English “morning.”
[ u ] is pronounced with unrounded close back similar to English “flu.”
2. Consonants:
Patterned after the Spanish rudiments of abakada, all consonants are singly pronounced with “-a” at the end. Thus,
they are sounded ba, ka, da, etc., except "ng" which is pronounced as "nang" or "ning."
ii
ACCENTUATION
Diacritical marks
The Cebuano language has four (4) kinds of actual or diacritical marks. Writing and reading Cebuano shall be
premised on the entire context. Owing to some technical constraints, diacritical marks may be used conditionally—when
writing results to confusion.
1. Acute accent [ Вґ ] -- slanted forward and placed above the vowel given with stress.
bГЎhaw
bГЎsa (read)
dГЎpit (invite)
hГєlbot
mГєmho
pГ­nggan
sugГ­lon
tingГЎli
2. Grave accent [ ] – slanted backward and placed above the vowel given with stress.
batГІ
dapìt (place)
gubГІt
lumГ d
lusГІt
magГ y
putГІs
sigГ y
3. Circumflex accent [ ˆ ] – formed like an arrowhead and placed above the vowel of the syllable given with stress.
basГў (wet)
bahГґ
bugtГґ
hagГў
lugtГ®
putГ®
subГґ
tahГґ
4. Prolonged accent or macron [ ‾ ] – used especially on syncoped and apocoped words, such as:
malala
mala
kulo
ku
pulong
pung
napulo
napu
sulog
sug
ulo
u
STRESSES
There are five (5) stresses of pronunciation in the Cebuano language.
1.Penultimate stress -- placed on the penultimate syllable.
alampat
bayani
binuhat
kalipay
lamian
magbabaol
panganti
talidhay
2. Penultimate with glottal end – placed on the penultimate syllable with glottal end.
bathala
bahakhak
baligho
balikhaw
bugto
pangagho
panghayhay
yakmo
3. End stress (panumoy) – placed at the end or on the last syllable of the word.
baliko
buhis
buhok
kulong
ligis
palit
sinukod
tulod
4. End stress with glottal end – placed at the end or on the last syllable with glottal end.
bati
bugha
bugti
kasuko
luha
salapi
suka
tungha
5. Double stress with glottal end on both syllables or on the second or third and last syllable – placed on two
syllables or at the second or third syllable and on the last syllable.
batabata
kipikipi
latalata
mumo
pipi
suso
taluto
tikitiki
ORTHOGRAPHY
Cebuano orthography is guided by the legal provision that "…whenever it shall be indispensable to form new words,
these shall be taken principally from the classical languages, such as Greek and Latin, especially for scientific, literary and
technical uses. Foreign words thus newly formed shall be assimilated to the Philippine phonetics and orthography…."7
Cebuano has several loan words which are directly taken from another language with little or no translation.8 Paronymous
words,9 however, have slight deviation, or even different, from their original and intended meaning and import. It even has
faux amis or false friends where pair or pairs of words in two languages or dialects (or letters in two alphabets) look and/or
sound similar but differ in meaning.10
FALSE FRIENDS
Cebuano
Cebuano
Cebuano
Cebuano
Cebuano
(coconut wine)
(oil)
(bolo)
(bird)
(understand)
tuba
lana
guna
langgam
sabot
English (wind instrument)
Spanish (wool)
Sanskrit (character)
Tagalog (ant)
Hiligaynon (pubic hair)
iii
Cebuano (squat)
Cebuano (ensconce; hide)
pungko
luklok
Negros Oriental (sit down)
Kapamgpangan (sit down)
A. Vowels –
A
1. A is sounded with unrounded open front similar to English “far.”
a. Used in all native words having an "a" sound:
abaga
adlaw
alampat
bakhaw
balak
balabag
dalaga
dalan
lagkaw
latagaw
mananap
mantaga
salanga
tagay
tanaman
b. Spanish derivatives:
alarma
animal
artista
bakuna
baldosa
akata
aparador
atleta
balanse
banda
alpombra
apostol
atras
balbakuwa
lata
c. English assimilations:
abnormal
apply
driver
high school lighter
satellite
-
abnormal
aplay
drayber
hayiskul
layter
satelayt
alibi
apprentice
flashlight
janitor
nightclub
time out
andam
bathala
lantaka
panday
tagana
amiga
armadura
bakasyon
balda
salida
-
alibay
aprentis
plaslayt
dyanitor
naytklab
taym awot
E
2. E is pronounced with unrounded open mid-front similar to English “red.”
a. There are few native words in the Cebuano language spelled with "e" or where "e" is used in the last syllable.
babaye
baye
bebe (duckling) kiye
dayeg
parayeg
pangadye
sikwate
b. It is also retained in some foreign words.
alegre
alambre
antena
arte
bendahe
bentaha
bote
kalambre
karne
katre
ensayo
entero
gabinete
higante
imposible
interes
menor
papel
peste
petate
recibo
rematse
ribete
sastre
temprano
tigre
almagre
bakante
bentana
kalibre
kerubin
esmalte
ignorante
lente
pensar
presidente
reseta
sereno
timbre
almanake
balde
berde
kamote
kotse
esmeril
imperdible
letse
permanente
rebelde
responsable
solemne
torpe
c. It is also used in some Spanish words with English equivalents that begin with "s." (Cf. Vowels 3 i, infra, for
exceptions.)
escuadra
- squad
- eskuwadra
espada
- sword
- espada
especial
- special
- espesyal
espera
- sphere
- espera
espiritu
- spirit
- espiritu
estomago
- stomach
- estomago
estrofa
- strophe
- estropa
estudiante
- student
- estudyante
extraГ±o
- stranger
- estranyo
d. The letter is likewise retained in Spanish words with English assimilation.
defensa
- defense
- depensa
economia
- economy
- ekonomiya
iv
ejercisio
eleccion
elefante
elegante
elemento
energia
exacto
experimento
experto
extra
-
-
exercise
election
elephant
elegant
element
energy
exact
experiment
expert
extra
ehersisyo
eleksiyon
elepante
elegante
elemento
enerhiya
eksakto
eksperimento
eksperto
ekstra
e. If the Spanish word uses "i" but with English equivalent in "e," the latter may be used.
actriz
- actress
- aktres
amnistia
- amnesty
- amnestiya
dimitir
- demit
- demitir
dirigir
- direct
- direhir
f. In folk etymology, "i" in Spanish may be change to "e."
tijera
teheras
ingeniero
-
g. It is likewise used to substitute English phonemes with:
1) long "a" (ДЃ), but followed by letter "y," as in "ey," in Cebuano.
ballet
baley
cake
chololate
tsokoleyt
date
gate
geyt
late
2) open or unaccented "a," schwa, etc.
candy
kendi
major
medyor
h.
It is likewise used as first letter in postfixes
derivatives. (Cf. I j, infra)
baka
- bakero
baston
- bastonero
bodega
- bodegero
kamino
- kaminero
karta
- kartero
kostura
- kosturera
enhinyeriya
- enhinyero
lata
- latero
mensahe
- mensahero
misyon
- misyonero
pasahe
- pasahero
puerto
- portero
salamangka
- salamangkero
tambor
- tambolero
tubo
- tubero
coordinator
manager
-
enhinyero
keyk
deyt
leyt
koordinetor
manedyer
to mean doer, performer, etc. as in –"era(o)" for Spanish
bangko
basura
kaha
karpinteriya
kosina
dinamita
hardin
mahika
mina
musika
plata
relo
sapatos
toro
usura
-
bangkero
basurero
kahera
karpintero
kosinera
dinamitero
hardinero
mahikero
minero
musikero
platero
relohero
sapatero
torero
usurero
i. It is also used to substitute "ie" (without continuous gliding sound in Cebuano) in borrowed words.
adviento
- adbento
consciencia
- konsensiya
incienso
- insenso
independient - independente
paciencia
- pasensiya
pensamiento - pensamento
sentimiento
- sentimento
serpiente
- serpente
j. It is also used to subsitute
bodeguero
higuera
sigue
-
"ue" (without continuous gliding sound) in borrowed words. (Cf. Consonants 2, c.)
bodegero
bouquet
- buke
igera
morgue
- morge
sige
tourniquet
- turnike
k. It is also used to substitute "ui" (without continuous gliding sound) in borrowed words. (Cf. Consonants 2, d.)
quimica
- kemika
quimico
- kemiko
I
3. I is pronounced with unrounded close front similar to English “tin.”
a. With some few words as exceptions (cf. E 2 a, supra), all native words with "i" sound are spelled with "i."
v
bililhon
buhis
intawon
ngilit
pislit
bingkil
kitiw
iwit
nipis
sinipit
binignit
haligi
itik
piliik
titip
brindis
libre
linimento
peligro
bisita
hebilla
libro
mitad
tisis
victima
-
bilya
libro
mitad
tisis
biktima
bilib
biskwit
Krismas tri
building
chemistry
sandwich
-
bilding
kemistri
sanwits
d. In folk etymology, "e" in Spanish may be changed to "i."
anteojo
- antiyohos
bandeja
bandera
- bandira
barrena
bellaco
- bilyako
betun
candela
- kandila
cabeza
cajeta
- kahita
caldera
carreton
- kariton
cebolla
cerrado
- sirado
cerrar
chismes
- tismis
chiste
cohete
- kuwitis
dedal
descanso
- diskanso
descarrilar
desconfiado
- diskompiyado
descuido
echar
- itsa
embudo
empacho
- impatso
enano
en punto
- impunto
en vez
es muy poco
- ispoko moy
espejo
espeso
- ispiso
flete
hechura
- hitsura
herramienta
imprenta
- imprinta
manteca
mantel
- mantil
mantener
memester
- mistil
perder
petaca
- pitaka
preso
quevedo
- kibido
salvaje
serrucho
- sirutso
servir
servidora
- silbidora
tantear
tendera
- tindera
tenedor
teja
- tisa
timonel
tomate
- tamatis
velar
vesti
- bisti
-
bandiha
barina
biton
kabisa
kaldira
sibuyas
sira
tistis
didal
diskaril
diskuwido
imbudo
inano
imbis
ispiho
plite
hiraminta
mantika
mantinil
pildi
piniriso
salbahis
silbi
tantiya
tinidor
timonil
bilar
b. Spanish derivatives.
brindis
libre
linimento
peligro
vicita
-
c. English derivatives.
believe
biscuit
Christmas tree -
bitiis
hingpit
ligid
pingis
yagpis
e. It is also used in hybrid words (Spanish with English equivalents) to replace "e," patterned after folk etymology
and based on English spelling which is more prevalent than Spanish.
acordeon
accordion
akordiyon
campeon
champion
kampiyon
capellan
chaplain
kapilyan
cometer
commit
komitir
cuarentena
quarantine
kuwarentinas
derecho
direct
diretso
desarma
disarm
dis-arma
descarga
discharge; unload
diskarga
descarte
discard; evade
diskarte
descontento
discontent
diskontento
descortesia
discourtesy
diskortesiya
descubrir
discover
diskobre
descuento
discount
diskuwento
desgracia
disgrace
disgrasya
designio/diseГ±o
design
desinyo
desmayo
dismay
dismayo
vi
despachar
gravedad
mezcla
ordenanza
relevo
seГ±a
seГ±al
someter
-
dispatch
gravity
mixture
ordinance
relief
sign
signal
submit
-
dispatsar
grabidad
miskla
ordinansa
relibo
sinyas
sinyal
sumitir
f. While "e" is used in some Spanish words with English spelling equivalent beginning in "s" (cf. Vowels 2 a,
supra), in folk etymology and as variants, "e" is replaced with "i" on, but not limited to, the following:
escala
scale; stopover
iskala
escandalo
scandal
iskandalo
escapular
scapular
iskapular o iskapularyo
escriba
scribe
iskriba
escritura
script
iskritura
escrutinio
scrutiny; canvassing iskutinyo
escultura
sculpture
iskultura
espacio
space
ispasyo
esperma
sperm
isperma
espia
spy
ispiya
espiral
spiral
ispiral
esqui
skiing
iski
estaca
stake
istaka
estacion
station
istasyon o istasyonan
estadio
stadium
istadyu o istadyum
estadista
statesman
istadista
estadistica
statistics
istadistika
estado
state
istado
estaГ±o
stannum; tin
istanyo
estante
shelf
istante
estar
stay
istar
estatico
static
istatiko
estatuwa
statue
istatuwa
estencil
stencil
istensil
estilo
style
istilo
estrategia
strategy
istratehiya
estricto
strict
istrikto
estructura
structure
istruktura
estupido
stupid
istupido
g. "I" is used in English phonemes that begin with "s."
schedule
- iskedyul
scholar
score
- iskor
scout
scramble
- iskrambol
scrap
small
- ismol
smuggler
snatcher
- isnatser
snob
snorkel
- isnorkel
sport
spot
- ispat
spring
squatter
- iskuwater
standby
-
iskolar
iskawot
iskrap
ismagler
isnab
isport
ispring
istambay
h. It is also used to substitute borrowed English words with double "e" (ee).
jamboree
- dyambori
jeep
- dyip
jeepney
- dyipni
referee
- reperi
teenager
- tin-edyer
i. It is also used to substitute foreign words ending in "y."
allergy
- alerdyi
sexy
sorry
- sori
X-ray
-
seksi
Iksri
j. It is likewise used as first letter in postfixes to mean doer, performer, etc. as in –"ira(o)" for native words. (Cf. E
h, supra.)
butang
- butangiro
kaingin
- kaingiro
hambog
- hambogiro
hantak
- hantakiro
lab-as
- lab-asira
libak
- libakira
sabong
- sabongiro
supak
- supakiro
vii
k. It is also used as first letter in postfixes to mean doer, performer, etc. as in – "ista" for foreign words.
agrikultura
- agrikulturista
agronomiya
- agronomista
arte
- artista
baho
- bahista
basketbol
- basketbolista
kapital
- kapitalista
kolumna
- kolumnista
komentaryo
- komentarista
komunismo
- komunista
kongreso
- kongresista
kontrabando
- kontrabandista
drama
- dramatista
ekonomiya
- ekonomista
gitara
- gitarista
lingguwistika
- lingguwista
makina
- makinista
masahe
- masahista
moda
- modista
partido
- partidista
pinal
- pinalista
piyano
- piyanista
retrato
- retratista
siklo
- siklista
tenis
- tenista
turismo
- turista
welga
- welgista
l. It is also used to substitute borrowed words having "ea" (without continuous gliding sound).
boxeador
- boksidor
m. It is also used to substitute borrowed words having "ei" (without continuous gliding sound).
proteina
- protina
n. It is likewise used to substitute borrowed words having "ie" (without continuous gliding sound in Cebuano).
herramienta
- hiraminta
pliego
- piligo
rienda
- rinda
riesgo
- risgo
tienda
- tindahan
tinieblas
- tiniblas
o. It is also used to subsitute borrowed words having “ue,” “ui,” or “uie” (without continuous gliding sound).
1) ue
banquete
- bangkite
franqueo
- prangkiyo
guerra
- gira
guerrilla
- girilya
higuera
- igira
queja
- kiha
saqueo
- sakiyo
trueque
- trukis
2) ui11
aguila
guillotina
guisante
guitarra
-
agila
gilotina
gisantes
gitara
3) uie
quiebrar
-
kibra
guia
guisado
guisar
jeringuilla
-
giya
gisado
gisal
heringgilya
p. If the root of the borrowed word is agglutinatively nativized to form some other words or meaning, "e" may be
changed to "i."
base
- basihan
bayle
- baylihan
bigote
- bigotilyo
kamote
- kamotihan
kape
- kapihan
debate
- debatihonon
edad
- pangidaron
higante
- higanting...
masahe
- masahian
paryente
- kaparyentihan
pirme
- pirmiha
puwerte
- puwerting...
sige
- sigiha
tental
- maninital
O
4. O is pronounced with rounded close mid-back similar to English “morning.”
a. O is used when it is at the ending syllable.
abo
bag-o
bukog
kibol
kulong
dulot
gusok
hulog
idro
lubog
lukot
luog
mug-ot
nukos
pulo
pusod
sulod
sungsong
tikod
tugbong
b. "O" is retained in repeated syllables or words that are solidemes to form comparison, repeated action, or to
convey some other meaning, etc.
baho
- bahobaho
dako
- dakodako
viii
hubo
liko
pito
sulog
-
hubohubo
likoliko
pitopito
sulogsulog
c. "O" is retained in native words with affixes:
bungtod
- kabungtoran
kahoy
- kakahoyan
lungsod
- kalungsoran
pusod
- kinapusoran
tinuod
- matinuoron
hubog
likod
putol
tulog
-
huboghubog
likodlikod
putolputol
tulogtulog
buot
ligo
luoy
sugo
tuno
-
kabuotan
kaligoanan
maluluy-on
sulugoon
tinunoan
d. Also in foreign words with the same phonemic sound.
abono
aporo
balota
bodega
bola
bolkan
bolsa
bomba (bomb)
botante
komosta
kosina
kota (quota)
dosena
grado
merkado
modelo
obra
ostiya
pobre
polis
politika
porma
regalo
robot
solitaryo
toga
tomar
toril
tornilyo
torno (lathe)
torta
tostado
trono
bosina
bolitas
boto (vote)
koto (limit)
misteryo
parola
pondo
sobre
tonto
torpedo
tropa
e. In folk etymology, "u" and "uo" in foreign words may be changed to "o."
cartulina
- kartolina
defectuoso
- depektoso
f. "O" is used to change "u" in Spanish with English assimilation spelled with "o."
comun
- common
- komon
patrulla
- patrol
- patrolya
U
5. U is pronounced with unrounded close back similar to English “flu”.
a. "U" is used when it is the beginning of an "o" sound syllable.
bituon
buang
bughat
buot
kutat
kuto
gugma
haruhay
hinuon
lahutay
lungis
mug-ot
salumsom
tunhay
tumong
utanon
utingkay
utong
b. "U" is used in repeated syllables on native words.
buhat
- magbubuhat
buhis
kuot
- mangunguot
hukngay
hukom
- maghuhukom
luoy
pamuo
- mamumuo
puhonan
pulong
- mamumulong
sulat
tudlo
- magtutudlo
tugway
tuon
- magtutuon
tupi
bungtod
dugho
hungot
puasa
umog
yungit
-
magbubuhis
maghuhukngay
maluluy-on
magpupuhonan
magsusulat
manunugway
manunupi
c. "U" is used in apocopes with macron or prolonged vowel sound. (Cf. Apocope, infra.)
bulong
- bung
kulong
- kung
dulog
- dug
dulot
- dut
gulot
- gut
hulog
- hug
pulong
- pung
sulod
- sud
sulog
- sug
sulong
- sung
tulod
- tud
tulog
- tug
d. It may be used as variant of some native words with "o" monophthongal ending.
balud
gayud
kalibutan
katapusan
hinaut
matud
paglaum
palihug
panahum
panghimaraut
patalinghug
tagum
e. "U" is retained in the last syllable of some foreign words.
ix
abakus
birtud
korum
menu
rostrum
tipus
album
bonus
espiritu
radyu (radius)
segun
tribu
asul
kawkus
isyu
radyum (radium)
simposyum
ultimatum
f. In some paronymous words, "o" is changed to "u."
barbacoa
- balbakuwa
borrego
bozal
- busal
colchon
corazonada
- kursonada
horma
hormiga
- hulmigas
horno
ojal
- uhalis
polvera
polvora
- pulbora
polvo
posta
- pusta
toalla
g.
-
baul (chest, trunk)
kolum
memorandum
reperendum
tahur
burigo
kutson
hulma
hudno
pulbera
pulbos
tualya
In blend or portmanteau (also telescope) words (from Spanish and English) with "o" sound, "u" is used
instead of "o" based on English spelling which is more prominent than Spanish.
acuario
- aquarium
- akwaryum
auditorio
- auditorium
- awditoryum
boletin
- bulletin
- buletin
bomba
- pump
- bumba
boton
- button
- butones
brocha
- brush
- brutsa
cacto
- cactus
- kaktus
chofer
- chauffer
- tsuper
cola
- glue
- kula
colocho
- curly hair
- kulot
corriente
- current
- kuryente
cortina
- curtain
- kurtina
cruz
- crux (cross)
- krus
droga
- drug
- druga
fondo
- fund
- pundo
mostaza
- mustard
- mustasa
polea
- pulley
- puleya
someter
- submit
- sumitir
soportar
- support
- suporta
sorpresa
- surprise
- surprisa
sospecha
- suspect
- suspetsa
sostener
- sustain
- sustener
tetano
- tetanus
- tetanus
tifus
- typhus
- tipus
trompeta
- trumpet
- trumpeta
h. "U" is likewise used to substitute double "o" (oo) in foreign words:
bazooka
basuka
boomerang
booster
buster
classroom
football
putbol
high school
pool
pul
school
scooter
iskuter
-
bumerang
klasrum
hayiskul
iskul
U and O
6. U and O – these vowels were once allophones. Traditional spelling, however, places "u" at the beginning, and "o"
at the end, of the syllable.12
a. The phonemic sequence of “u” and “o” is used in words when adjacently placed in the same order.
alimuot
baguod
bituon
kabuot
kaguol
kahimuot
kaluoy
guod
huong
luog
matuod
nuog
panimuot
puol
suod
suol
tinuod
tuok
tuod
tuon
b. The same order is used in words with similar sound syllables but with consonant or consonants in between.
buhong
butong
bus-ok
kulon
kumot
dukot
gutom
hubog
hulog
hutoy
lugod
lusok
x
puso
sulop
putos
tukmod
subol
tukog
sulog
tusok
c. The sequence of “u” and “o” is used on repeated syllables but that of a root.
bukbok
bunbon
kutkot
dukdok
dutdot
gulgol
hulhol
hushos
luklok
lumlom
ngutngot
nusnos
pukpok
pulpol
punpon
sulsol
sumsom
tuktok
tugtog
tungtong
d. The same sequence of “u” and “o” is used on repeated words for repeated action, names of plants, insects, or
animals, imitated actions or things, or state of mediocrity. These are solidemes; thus, hyphen is not used.
buot
- buotbuot
kuot
- kuotkuot
duog
- duogduog
hubo
- hubohubo
hubog
- huboghubog
hugot
- hugothugot
humok
- humokhumok
lukso
- luksolukso
pugong
- pugongpugong
pungko
- pungkopungko
putol
- putolputol
tulog
- tulogtulog
tuyok
- tuyoktuyok
udto
- udtoudto
N.B.: Hyphen may only be used in originally hyphenated roots or when reading results to confusion. (See
Punctuation on separate paper.)
hut-ong
- hut-onghut-ong
- hut-ong-hut-ong
lut-od
- lut-odlut-od
- lut-od-lut-od
mug-ot
- mug-otmug-ot
- mug-ot-mug-ot
pug-ok
- pug-okpug-ok
- pug-ok-pug-ok
sul-ong
- sul-ongsul-ong
- sul-ong-sul-ong
ulhos
- ulhosulhos
- ulhos-ulhos
e. The same sequence is used on repeated words with two or more syllables to form some other words, usually
noun.
balungbalong (shanty)
bukubuko (back)
bukungbukong (kneecap)
dakudako (foreman)
habuhabo (drizzle)
luyuluyo (assistant)
pakupako (latisimus dorsis)
palupalo (washbat)
bahugbahog (battle)
lamuklamok (brawl)
f. The same sequence in some adopted foreign words.
argumento
artikulo
asunto
bulto
busto
krudo
husto
instrumento
insulto
multo
pulido
pulpito
puro
puwerto
rumbo
sustento
tarugo
titulo
ungwento
uso
usurero
B. CONSONANTS
1. Cebuano has 15 native consonants.
a. B -bakhaw
baguod
baligho
balikhaw
bidli
bihag
bitik
bituon
buhilaman
bulak
behikulo
disgusto
menudo
punto
seguro
turno (shift)
yugo
bagyo
bantay
binhi
bukhad
bulan
bahaw
bathaluman
bitang
bugas
buntag
kabaw
karaan
kilat
kitoy
kuyamad
kalimot
kasakit
kilumkilom
kiyuom
kuyog
b. K –
kaang
kalipay
kasingkasing
kino
kulipas
kabang
kamalig
kibag
kitiw
kulong
Note: There is no double consonant in Cebuano native words that start with "k" and "w" (kw) or "k" and
"y" (ky). (Cf. Consonants l, infra.)
kwarta
kuwarta
kwakdop
kuwakdop
kwaknit
kuwaknit
kwanggol
kuwanggol
xi
kyampaw
-
kiyampaw
kyugpos
-
kiyugpos
"kw" and "ky" may be found, however, in the interior of the word.
bikwang
bukwas
bukway
lakwatsa
likwad
sakwat
salikwaot
salikway
sikwa
takway
tikwang
tokwa
bakya
bukya
hikyad
pakyaw
sakyanan
takyan
takyap
tikyop
c. D –
dako
dagkot
dagnay
dalit
damgo
dapaw
dayandayan
didto
dinhi
diwanag
dubok
dukot
dughan
dulog
dumpol
Note: D is used in alternation of "b" in the aphesis of:
usab
sab
sad
dagsa
dayag
diwa
dugay
duot
d. G –
gabii
gambalay
gimok
gisi
gumaran
gabok
ganti
ginit
guba
gumonhap
gahot
gibang
gintang
gubot
gunting
galing
gilaw
giok
gugma
gutom
habak
hamog
hilam-os
hitak
hulaw
habog
hamugaway
hilom
hukdong
humot
hakot
handurawan
hilos
hulagway
hunaw
halandomon
hangin
hinay
hulat
huyuhoy
laag
lapyahan
libaong
litok
lumad
labhag
laraw
likod
lubok
lumoy
lagos
laway
ligoy
lugod
lunsay
lamas
layag
limod
luha
lupyak
maayo
malumo
mangla
minghoy
mugna
magtutudlo
mamala
manulonda
mithi
mulo
mahal
manalagna
mata
mitna
mumho
malala
manggad
mingaw
molupyo
mutya
e. H –
f. L --
g. M --
h. N – Adjoining "n" and "g" in the following examples are two separate consonants.
nahot
nasod
natad
nati
nigo
nihit
nipis
niwang
nukos
nunot
nuog
nusnos
ngabil
ngalan
ngilit
ngulob
bangaw
hungot
langit
singot
i. NG [Е‹] 13 is a part of Alibata14 -- (Cf. 2 r, infra.)
1) interior of the word followed by a consonant:
bangkaw
bungkag
bungtod
hanggaw
hangyo
hingkod
lingkod
lungsod
manghod
pang-os
pinangga
pinggan
sangko
singhag
tangkal
2) end of the word:
abang
bungsod
gibang
nangnang
amping
butong
labong
pandong
atang
kabang
lagingling
pasunding
kangho
lingkit
mangloy
pungko
tingkoy
baling
dalilang
lamang
sundang
xii
tagning
taming
tinughong
tugbang
pakal
pamanit
pastilan
pingis
putak
pagaw
panday
payag
pitik
putol
pagbati
pangahas
pinangko
pukas
putos
palad
pangandoy
pinangga
puhon
puyo
rabanit
burot
kurong
larot
sarok
rakrak
kurat
garas
parok
tarong
rawraw
kuraw
harong
parat
taroy
birok
kurit
hurot
purong
turok
j. P –
k. R --
NOTE: In affixation,
Affixation, infra.)
baid
banggod
bulad
kagid
kilid
gaod
hangtod
ladlad
lingkod
manggad
pahid
tahod
-
"R" substitutes "D" in the native language to form some other meaning. (See
bairan
banggoran
bularan
kagiron
kiliran
gaoran
kahangtoran
ladlaran
lingkoranan
kamanggaran
pahiran
katahoran
balod
bukid
bungtod
kagod
kudkod
halad
laktod
lawod
luod
manghod
tadtad
tubod
sabaw
salibot
samtang
sigpit
sud-ip
sabod
salimuang
sapang
subad
suhol
-
baloron
kabukiran
kabungtoran
kagoran
kudkoran
halaran
laktoranan
kalawran
luoran
kinamanghoran
tadtaran
tuboran
l. S -saad
salampati
salingsing
sigay
sukod
salag
salingkapaw
sibay
subok
sulog
Note: There is no double consonant in Cebuano native words that begin with "s" and "w" (sw) and "s"
and "y" (sy);
swapang
- suwapang
switik
- suwitik
syatong
- siyatong
syumoy
- siyumoy
"sw" and "sy" may be found, however, in the intetior of the word.
buswak
kasway
giswid
huswa
laswa
liswi
busyad
masyaw
m. T -tab-ang
talaw
tikod
tipaka
tugbong
takos
talidhay
timbang
tubos
tuhay
takulahaw
tapak
tim-os
tukaw
tulilik
tagad
tikang
tinguha
tukmod
tumong
wagas
wala
walwag
wani
wayway
wagtang
walingwalling
wanang
wasay
wikwik
wahing
walis
wandog
wati
witik
wait
walog
wangwang
wayawaya
wiwi
n. W --
Note: In alternation
words.
alom
alot
balok
of letters in some native words, "w" is used instead of "l,"15 which is prominent in spoken
-
awom
awot
bawok
along
balo
balod
-
awong
bawo
bawod
xiii
balon
bula
bulakaw
bulag
bulang
bulasot
kahibalo
kalos
kulaknit
kulintas
dula
dulaw
gula
halo
halok
hulam
hulaw
lalom
pahulay
palong
palot
panulay
pulak
salo
salog
salop
salumsom
sula
sulaw
talong
tinula
tulandos
ulag
ulan
ulaw
-
bawon
buwa
buwakaw
buwag
buwang
buwasot
kahibawo
kawos
kuwaknit
kuwintas
duwa
duwaw
guwa
hawo
hawok
huwam
huwaw
lawom
pahuway
pawong
pawot
panuway
puwak
sawo
sawog
sawop
sawumsom
suwa
suwaw
tawong
tinuwa
tuwandos
uwag
uwan
uwaw
balos
bulak
bulad
bulan
bulanting
bulaw
kalo
kalot
kulang
dalo
dulang
galong
gulang
halob
hulabon
hulat
ilalom
magulang
palo
palos
panimalos
pula
pulaw
salod
salom
salot
singgalong
sulat
tagalog
tigulang
tula
tungkalo
ulang
ulat
walo
-
It even results to deletion together with the vowel preceding it.
dalugdog
dawugdog
dalunggan
dawunggan
salugsog
sawugsog
talumtom
tawumtom
taluto
tawuto
-
bawos
buwak
buwad
buwan
buwanting
buwaw
kawo
kawot
kuwang
dawo
duwang
gawong
guwang
hawob
huwabon
huwat
ilawom
maguwang
pawo
pawos
panimawos
puwa
puwaw
sawod
sawom
sawot
singgawong
suwat
tagawog
tiguwang
tuwa
tungkawo
uwang
uwat
wawo
dugdog
dunggan
sugsog
tumtom
tuto
o. Y -yabag
yagaw
yamog
yawyaw
yuko
yabo
yagpis
yampungad
yaya
yugyog
yaka
yagubyob
yangungo
yayong
yungit
Substitution:
1) Y substitutes "ing" in contraction. (See Contraction, infra.)
ako ing
akoy
aduna ing
ikaw ing
ikay
kamo ing
kita ing
kitay
gani ing
lamang ing lamay
lang ing
mao ing
maoy
sila ing
siya ing
siyay
wala ing
-
yakmo
yahat
yarok
yukbo
yuta
adunay
kamoy
ganiy
lay
silay
walay
2) Y also substitutes the conjunctive particle "ka" when the numerical adjective preceding it ends in vowel.
duha-ka-ligid nga karwahe
duhay-ligid nga karwahe
pito-ka-ang-ang nga hagdanan
pitoy-ang-ang nga hagdanan
tulo-ka-andana nga edipisyo
tuloy-andana nga edipisyo
walo-ka-tiil nga insekto
waloy-tiil nga insekto
2. Cebuano consonants may be used to substitute foreign consonants.
xiv
a. B for P and V –
1) P:
tapon
-
tabon
2) V:
activista
atrevido
aviva
conserva
favor
grave
lavandera
levadura
pavo
privado
vaho
vale
vandalo
vaso
ventilador
verja
victima
visita
vivo
-
aktibista
atrebido
abiba
konserba
pabor
grabe
labandera
lebadura
pabo
pribado
baho (smell)
bale
bandalo
baso
bentilador
berha
biktima
bisita
bibo
agresivo
a ver
aviso
devoto
grava
lava
lavavo
oliva
pavon
revalida
vajo
vampira
vapor
ventana
ventosa
viaje
vino
vista
volcan
-
agresibo
aber
abiso
deboto
graba
laba
lababo
oliba
pabon
rebalida
baho (bass)
bampira
bapor
bentana
bentosa
biyahe
bino
bista
bolkan
abaniko
akusado
arka
artikulo
barko
botika
kalkulo
kalma
kamote
kandado
kapote
karakol
karsel
karne
kastigo
klaro
klima
kobra
kobre
kodigo
kolektor
kolokar
kombinar
kometa
komparar
kompleto
kompositor
komprador
komunidad
konsentir
konsorte
konsumidor
kontador
kontra
kontrato
kordero
kredo
krisis
kuna
acrobata
alcabala
arco
atracar
bistec
calavera
calidad
camarin
campana
cantidad
capsula
carambola
carnaval
caspa
catecismo
clase
clinica
cobrador
cocina
colecta
colera
color
comedor
comite
compas
complot
compra
compromiso
conductor
consagrar
consulta
consumo
contento
contrario
corbata
costumbre
crema
cristal
cura
-
akrobata
alkabala
arko
atraka
bistek
kalabera
kalidad
kamarin
kampana
kantidad
kapsula
karambola
karnabal
kaspa
katesismo
klase
klinika
kobrador
kosina
kolekta
kolera
kolor
komedor
komite
kompas
komplot
kompra
kompromiso
konduktor
konsagrar
konsulta
konsumo
kontento
kontraryo
korbata
kostumbre
krema
kristal
kura
b. K for C, CH, and G –
1) C:
abanico
acusado
arca
articulo
barco
botica
calculo
calmado
camote
candado
capote
caracol
carcel
carne
castigo
claro
clima
cobra
cobre
codigo
colector
colocar
combinar
cometa
comparar
completo
compositor
comprador
comunidad
consentir
consorte
consumidor
contador
contra
contrato
cordero
credo
crisis
cuna
-
xv
curso
delicado
dictar
discutir
educado
electronico
etnico
insecto
laico
marca
mascada
matricula
mecanismo
peluca
periodico
placa
proclamar
proyecto
romantico
saco
sacristan
simpatico
surco
tacon
tocador
tocayo
tuerca
-
kurso
delikado
diktar
diskutir
edukado
elektroniko
etniko
insekto
layko
marka
maskada
matrikula
mekanismo
peluka
peryodiko
plaka
proklamar
proyekto
romantiko
sako
sakristan
simpatiko
surko
takon
tokador
tokayo
tuwerka
2) CH:
parchar
-
parka
3) G:
esgrima
-
eskrima
c. K+E for QUE -almanaque
banquero
bloque
dique
etiqueta
paquete
plaque
queso
raqueta
tanque
-
d. K+I for QUI -alquilar
arquitectura
boquilla
conquistador
equipo
franquicia
liquidar
maniqui
maquina
mosquitero
quilate
quincena
quinto
saquito
-
e. K+S for CC and X -1) CC:
accidente
colleccion
-
cutis
dictador
discurso
eclipse
elector
escopeta
hipocrita
lacra
manuscrito
marco
mascara
mecanico
monarca
perico
pico
politica
producto
publico
rosca
sacramento
sepulcro
sindicato
taco
tecla
tocar
triciclo
vacante
-
kutis
diktador
diskurso
eklipse
elektor
eskopeta
hipokrita
lakra
manuskrito
marko
maskara
mekaniko
monarka
periko
piko
politika
produkto
publiko
roska
sakramento
sepulkro
sindikato
tako
tekla
tokar
trisiklo
bakante
almanake
bangkero
bloke
dike
etiketa
pakete
plake
keso
raketa
tangke
ataque
banqueta
chaqueta
empaque
musiquero
parque
querubin
quinque
repique
torniquete
-
atake
bangketa
tsaketa
empake
musikero
parke
kerubin
kingke
repike
tornikete
alkila
arkitektura
bokilya
kongkistador
ekipo
prangkisya
likidar
manikin
makina
moskitero
kilates
kinsena
kinto
sakito (sachet)
alquitran
barquillo
caqui
croquis
esquina
jerarquia
liquido
mantiquilla
maquinista
pasquin
quimono
quinque
requisito
taquilla
-
alkitran
barkilyos
kaki
krokis
eskina
herarkiya
likido
mantikilya
makinista
paskin
kimono
kingke
rekisito
takilya
aksidente
koleksiyon
accion
construccion
-
aksiyon
konstruksiyon
xvi
diccionario
infeccion
inyeccion
seccion
-
diksiyonaryo
impeksiyon
ineksiyon
seksiyon
eleccion
inspeccion
leccion
seleccion
-
eleksiyon
inspeksiyon
leksiyon
seleksiyon
2) X:
exacto
excursion
excomunion
explosion
expresion
extra
sexto
-
eksakto
ekskursiyon
ekskomunyon
explosyon
ekspresyon
ekstra
seksto
examine
exception
experto
explosivo
extension
oxigeno
texto
-
eksamin
eksepsiyon
eksperto
eksplosibo
ekstensiyon
oksiheno
teksto
f. K+UWA for CUA (Cf. Diphthongs 2, t) -cuaderno
- kuwaderno
cuadrado
- kuwadrado
cuarenta
- kuwarenta
cuarentena
- kuwarentinas
cuarto
- kuwarto
cuadra
cuadro
cuaresma
cuartel
cuarzo
-
g. K+UWE for CUE (Cf. Diphthongs 2, u) -cuello
- kuwelyo
cuerdas
- kuwerdas
cuerpo
- kuwerpo
cuenta
cuero
cuestion
kuwadra
kuwadro
- kuwaresma
- kuwartel
- kuwarso
-
kuwenta
kuwero
kuwestiyon
h. K+WI for CUI and QUI – when the letters are found at the beginning or in the interior of the word.
biscuit
- biskwit
circuito
- sirkwito
cuidadoso
- kwidawo
sequins
- sekwins
i. K+YA for QUIA -parroquia
reliquia
-
parokya
relikyas
parroquiano
-
parokyano
j. D for R -horno
hudno
tibor
-
tibod
jacket
janitor
jet
mah jong
-
dyaket
dyanitor
dyet
madyong
-
ahente
helatina
henyo
himnasta
hinebra
imahen
liturhiya
mahistrado
orihinal
rehimen
rehiyon
birhen
-
k. D+Y for GY and J for English phonemes.
allergy
- alerdyi
jackpot
- dyakpat
jeep
- dyip
magic
- madyik
l. G for J -forcejar
-
porseger
m. H for G and J -1). G:
agencia
digito
general
gigante
gimnastica
inteligente
ligero
logica
mariguana
pagina
registro
religion
-
ahensiya
dihito
heneral
higante
himnastika
intelihente
lihero
lohika
marihuwana
pahina
rehistro
relihiyon
agente
gelatina
genio
gimnasta
ginebra
imagen
liturgia
magistrado
original
regimen
region
virgen
-
aguha
bagahe
baraha
kaha
ajo
- ahos
bajada
- bahada
bruja
- bruha
concejo/consejo - konseho
2). J:
aguja
bagaje
baraja
caja
xvii
conejo
dibujo
ejercicio
embajador
garaje
jamon
jefe
juego
jurado
justicia
juzgado
lija
manejo
mensaje
mojon
potaje
tarjeta
traje
viaje
-
koneho
dibuho
ehersisyo
embahador
garahe
hamon
hepe
huygo
hurado
hustisya
husgado
liha
maneho
mensahe
mohon
potahe
tarheta
trahe
biyahe
crucifijo
ejemplo
embajada
faja
herejia
jaula
jinete
junta
jurar
justo
lenguaje
lujo
masaje
mensajero
pasaje
sabotaje
trabajador
vendaje
voltaje
-
krusipiho
ehemplo
embahada
paha
erehiya
hawla
hinete
hunta
hurar
husto
lengguwahe
luho
masahe
mensahero
pasahe
sabotahe
trabahador
bendahe
boltahe
Spanish words with silent phonemes shall likewise be in Cebuano.
H:
alhaja
- alahas
habano
- abano
habilidad
- abilidad
habla
- abla
hacha
- atsa
hacienda
- asyenda
hasta
- asta
hectarea
- ektarya
heredero
- eredero
hereje
- erehes
herejia
- erehiya
herencia
- erensiya
higo
- igos
higuera
- igera
hijo
- iho
himno
- imno
historia
- istorya
hospicio
- ospisyo
hospital
- ospital
hostia
- ostiya
hotel
- otel
huracan
- urakan
J:
reloj
-
relo
Note: Letter "J," with English pronunciation as "jar,"16 is prevalent in Bohol, southern parts of Leyte,
Surigao, etc.
ajaw
banjo
baje
jagajaga
jahat
jamajama
jamo
jubo
maajo
panjo
sija
tajaw
n. L for D -pared
-
paril
vidrio
-
bildo
o. L for LL in English -alleluia
basketball
football
-
aleluya
basketbol
putbol
allergy
baseball
volleyball
-
alerdyi
besbol
balibol
p. L for N in Spanish –
cincel
-
silsil
navaja
-
labaha
q. L for R in Spanish -abrir
arpa
azucar
batir
casar
cordon
enamorar
fiar
guisar
hormiga
memester
-
abli
alpa
asukal
batil
kasal
koldon
amoral
piyal
gisal
hulmigas
mistil
almibar
asar
barba
carburo
confesar
cuerdas
fardo
franela
horma
mantener
perder
-
anibal
asal
balbas
kalburo
kompisal
kuldas
paldo
planela
hulma
mantinil
pildi
xviii
servidora
servir
tambor
tentar
-
silbidora
silbi
tambol
tental
servilleta
tajar
tasar
-
silbilyeta
tahal
tasal
apellido
ballena
baratillo
bombilla
cabilla
callo
capellan
casilla
cepillo
cosinilla
cuello
doncella
fallar
gatillo
mantiquilla
medalla
pantalla
relleno
rollo
sillon
tornillo
varilla
-
apelyido
balyena
baratilyo
bombilya
kabilya
kalyo
kapilyan
kasilyas
sepilyo
kosinilya
kuwelyo
donselya
palyar
gatilyo
mantikilya
medalya
pantalya
relyeno
rolyo
silyon
tornilyo
barilya
confesar
conforme
convenio
convicto
convite
invalido
investigacion
invitacion
sinfonia
-
kompisal
komporme
kombenyo
kombikto
kombite
imbalido
imbestigasyon
imbitasyon
simponiya
inmemorial
inmigrante
inmueble
-
imemoryal
imigrante
imuwebles
r. L+Y for L and LL in Spanish –
1) L
dolar
- dolyar
2) LL
amarillo
argolla
barandilla
billar
botella
calle
campanilla
capilla
cepillar
cigarillo
cuchillo
detalle
empella
folleto
lamparilla
martillo
medallon
pillo
repollo
semilla
taller
vainilla
-
amarilyo
argolya
barandilya
bilyar
botelya
kalye
kampanilya
kapilya
sepilya
sigarilyo
kutsilyo
detalye
empelya
polyeto
lamparilya
martilyo
medalyon
pilyo
repolyo
semilya
talyer
banilya
s. M for N and NM in Spanish –
1) N:
conferencia
- komperensiya
confianza
- kompiyansa
convencion
- kombensiyon
convento
- kombento
convida
- kombida
infierno
- impiyerno
invencion
- imbensiyon
invierno
- imbiyerno
panfleto
- pampleto
2) NM:
inmaculada
inmigracion
inmoral
-
imakulada
imigrasyon
imoral
t. NG for N [Е‹] in Spanish -- It is a ligature or digraph consonant when used in the interior of the word followed by
a consonant.
aЕ‹cla
- angkla
aЕ‹gel
- anghel
baЕ‹carrota
- bangkarota
baЕ‹co
- bangko
baЕ‹queta
- bangketa
baЕ‹quillo
- bangkiyo
baЕ‹quite
- bangkite
blaЕ‹co
- blangko
broЕ‹quitis
- brongkitis
ciЕ‹co
- singko
coЕ‹clusion
- kongklusyon
coЕ‹creto
- kongkreto
coЕ‹curso
- kongkurso
coЕ‹gregacion - kongregasyon
coЕ‹greso
- kongreso
eЕ‹canto
- engkanto
eЕ‹cargado
- engkargado
eЕ‹cuentro
- engkuwentro
espoЕ‹ja
- espongha
fraЕ‹ca
- prangka
fraЕ‹quicia
- prangkisya
gaЕ‹grena
- ganggrena
guachinaЕ‹go - guwatsinanggo
iЕ‹grato
- inggrato
iЕ‹greso
- inggreso
loЕ‹ganiza
- longganisa
maЕ‹co
- mangko
maЕ‹go
- manggo
xix
maЕ‹guera
moЕ‹je
palaЕ‹ca
saЕ‹gra
-
manggera
monghe
plangka
sanggra
moЕ‹ja
nuЕ‹ca
palaЕ‹gana
traЕ‹ca
-
mongha
nungka
palanggana
trangka
u. N+W for Г‘ -buГ±uelo
-
bunwelos
castaГ±uelas
-
kastanwelas
aГ±o
baГ±o
campaГ±a
caГ±uto
castaГ±etas
contraseГ±a
diseГ±o
estaГ±o
muГ±eca
puГ±al
riГ±on
seГ±al
-
anyo
banyo
kampanya
kanyuto
kastanyetas
kontrasinyas
desinyo
istanyo
munyeka
punyal
rinyon
sinyal
v. N+Y for Г‘ and NEA -1) Г‘
aГ±il
- anyil
araГ±a
- aranya
baГ±era
- banyera
caГ±on
- kanyon
cariГ±o
- karinyo
compaГ±ero
- kompanyero
daГ±os
- danyos
ermitaГ±o
- ermitanyo
monseГ±or
- monsenyor
piГ±a
- pinya
puГ±o
- punyos
seГ±a
- sinyas
Exceptions: a) If the letter "Г±" in Spanish is followed by a dipthong, as in "compaГ±ia," "i" is placed in
between "n" and "y," as in "kompaniya."
b) Names of persons, places, or phenomena shall not be altered.
CaГ±a
Sto. NiГ±o
La NiГ±a
OsmeГ±a
2) NEA
linea
-
linya
w. P for F -bufete
cifrar
elefante
fabula
falda
falta
fanatico
farola
favorito
fiesta
firma
flauta
flete
fogon
formal
forzoso
frasco
fresco
fritada
funda
grifo
oficina
plataforma
profesor
rifa
tifus
-
bupete
sipra
elepante
pabula
palda
palta
panatiko
parola
paborito
piyesta
pirma
plawta
plite
pogon
pormal
porsoso
prasko
presko
pritada
punda
gripo
opisina
plataporma
propesor
ripa
tipus
cafe
desfalco
fabrica
faja
fallar
familia
fantasma
favor
fecha
fino
firme
flema
florera
forma
formalidad
fosforo
freno
frito
fuerte
fusil
nafta
oficio
profesion
profeta
tarifa
uniforme
-
kape
despalko
pabrika
paha
palyar
pamilya
pantasma
pabor
petsa
pino
pirme
plema
plorera
porma
pormalidad
posporo
preno
prito
puwerte
pusil
napta
opisyo
propesyon
propeta
taripa
uniporme
x. R for D -almidon
jugador
-
almirol
sugarol
convida
pedazo
-
kombira
piraso
y. R for L -calzada
-
karsada
calzones
-
karsones
xx
calzoncillos
salsa
z. R for RR -aburrido
arras
arreglar
barra
barrena
barricada
carrera
carreton
carroza
cerrado
corral
corregir
corresponsal
garrafa
garrapata
gorra
herramienta
parroco
tarro
territorio
-
karsonsilyo
sarsa
facistol
-
pasistor
-
aburido
aras
areglar
bara
barina
barikada
karera
kariton
karosa
sirado
koral
korehir
koresponsal
garapa
garapata
gora
hiraminta
paroko
taro
teritoryo
almorranas
arrastre
arrenda
barracks
barreta
barril
carretilla
carro
cerrar
cerradura
correa
correo
corriente
garrafon
garrote
gorrion
parrafo
pizarra
terraza
terrorista
-
almoranas
arastre
arenda
baraks
barita
baril
karetilya
karo
sira
siradura
koreya
koreyo
kuryente
garapon
garote
goryon
parapo
pisara
terasa
terorista
acido
bicicleta
bronce
carcel
celda
cementerio
centenario
ceramica
cetro
cilindro
cinturon
circulo
cirujano
concilio
decidir
inocente
motorciclo
proceso
receta
triciclo
-
asido
bisikleta
bronse
karsel
selda
sementeryo
sentenaryo
seramika
setro
silindro
sinturon
sirkulo
siruhano
konsilyo
desidir
inosente
motorsiklo
proseso
reseta
trisiklo
aa. S for C, CH, J, SC, X, and Z -1) C:
acero
- asero
arancel
- aransel
bocina
- bosina
cacerola
- caserola
cedula
- sedula
celoso
- seloso
cemento
- semento
centro
- sentro
cerveza
- serbesa
ciclo
- siklo
cimborio
- simboryo
circo
- sirko
cirugia
- siruhiya
cocina
- kosina
decidido
- desidido
docena
- dosena
medicina
- medisina
once
- onse
quince
- kinse
torcer
- torse
2) CH:
chayote
chubasco
ganchillo
-
sayote
subasko
gansilyo
chile
conchabo
gancho
-
sili
konsabo
ganso
3) J:
jabon
jugar
-
sabon
sugal
jugador
-
sugarol
4) SC:
ascenso
discipulo
piscina
-
asenso
disipulo
pisina
disciplina
escena
plebiscito
-
disiplina
esena
plebisito
5) X:
extraГ±o
Xerox
-
estranyo
seroks
explicar
xylophone
-
esplikar
silopon
xxi
6) Z:
abraza
ajedrez
alza
azul
bagazo
bazar
brazo
buzon
calabozo
capataz
cruz
fianza
izar
juzgado
lapiz
matriz
poliza
punzon
razon
taza
zapato
zona
-
abrasa
ahedres
alsa
asul
bagaso
basar
braso
buson
kalaboso
kapatas
krus
piyansa
isa
husgado
lapis
matris
polisa (policy)
punson
rason
tasa
sapatos
sona
actriz
alianza
azoge
azufre
barniz
braza
buzo
calabaza
caliz
cobranza
cruzada
gamuza
juez
lanzar
loza
onza
pozo
raza
retazo
trozo
zero
zurcir
-
aktres
alyansa
asoge
asupre
barnis
brasa
buso
kalabasa
kalis
kobransa
krusada
gamusa
huwes
lansar
losa
onsa
poso
rasa
retaso
troso
sero
sursi
7) There are several borrowed words, however, where "s" is added to the last open syllable:
acera
- aseras
acolito
- kolitos
ajo
- ahos
alhaja
- alahas
anteojo
- antiyohos
arete
- aretes
arma
- armas
barquillo
- barkilyos
bolita
- bolitas
borla
- borlas
bota
- botas
boton
- butones
buena
- buynas
casilla
- kasilyas
cebolla
- sibuyas
ceremonia
- seremonyas
chinela
- tsinelas
chiste
- tistis
cinta
- sintas
cita
- citas
cuarentena
- kuwarentinas
ficha
- pitsas
fruta
- prutas
galleta
- galyetas
garbanzo
- garbansos
guayaba
- bayabas
guante
- guwantes
guisante
- gisantes
hereje
- erehes
hoja
- ohas
hora
- oras
igual
- igwales
lechuga
- letsugas
liga
- ligas
maceta
- masetas
mal
- malas
manga
- manggas
manzana
- mansanas
manzanita
- mansanitas
maraca
- marakas
media
- medyas
medio
- medyos
mejora
- mehoras
mueble
- muwebles
ojal
- uhalis
parra
- paras
pasa
- pasas
patata
- patatas
perla
- perlas
pildora
- pildoras
porra
- poras
pulga
- pulgas
pulsera
- pulseras
puГ±o
- punyos
quilate
- kilates
rabano
- rabanos
rayo
- rayos
reja
- rehas
salvaje
- salbahis
sandalia
- sandalyas
sardina
- sardinas
seГ±a
- sinyas
signo
- signos
sopa
- sopas
tachuela
- suylas
termo
- termos
testigo
- testigos
tijera
- teheras
tiza
- tisas
tomate
- tamatis
tortilla
- tortilyas
trampa
- trampas
trueque
- trukis
uva
- ubas
vispera
- bisperas
zapato
- sapatos
8) There are likewise borrowed Spanish words, however, where "s" is omitted in the last open syllable. (Cf.
Aphesis, infra.)
xxii
abrebotellas
antiparras
fondillos
patillas
-
ablibotelya
antipara
pondiyo
patilya
abrelatas
calzoncillos
paracaidas
salvavidas
-
ablilata
karsonsilyo
- parakayda
- salbabida
bb. S for Cebuano assimilation of English words.
sandwich
- sanwits
switch
-
swits
-
istampita
platito
cc. T for CH -chiste
-
tistis
dd. T for LL -banquillo
palillo
-
bangkito
palito
estampilla
platillo
-
ee. T+S for CH -archidiocesis
brocha
chaleco
chapa
cheque
chico
chismosa
chofer
chupar
coche
colchon
cuchillo
escabeche
hacha
leche
machete
marcha
pichel
provechar
rancho
sospecha
-
artsidiyosesis
brutsa
tsaliko
tsapa
tseke
tsiko
tsismosa
tsuper
tsupa
kotse
kutson
kutsilyo
eskabetse
atsa
letse
matsete
martsa
pitsel
probetsar
rantso
suspetsa
bizcocho
capricho
champurrado
charol
chicharron
chismes
chocolate
chorizo
chupon
cosecha
cuchara
echar
fecha
lancha
macho
mancha
pecho
plancha
puchero
remache
tacha
-
biskotso
kapritso
tsampurado
tsarol
tsitsaron
tsismis
tsokolate
tsoriso
tsupon
kosetsa
kutsara
itsa
petsa
lantsa
matso
mantsa
petso
plantsa
putsero
rematse
tatsa
ff. W for D -acerado
cuidado
niquelado
-
aserawo
kwidawo
nikelawo
atrasado
muskulado
desentunado
-
atrasawo
muskulawo
sentunawo
gg. W for H –
cohete
-
kuwitis
hh. Y for LL -banquillo
caldillo
fondillos
llano
llave
quisquilloso
silla
-
bangkiyo
kaldiyo
pondiyo
yano
yawe
asyoso
siya
caballo
cebolla
llamar
llanta
molinillo
sencillo
tablilla
-
kabayo
sibuyas
yamar
yantas
buloniyo
sensiyo
tabliya
DIPHTHONGS
Diphthong is the complex monosyllabic sound made by continuous gliding from one position to another, as "aw" in
bahaw, "ay" in balay, etc. In the use of foreign diphthongs, however, it involves epenthesis which requires the insertion of
"w," "y," etc. in between, and the change of "ao" to "aw," etc.17
1. Cebuano diphthongs:
a. AW
bahaw
gimaw
lawgaw
bugaw
hamabaw
lugaw
kilaw
hulaw
mingaw
kutaw
labaw
pulaw
xxiii
sabaw
silaw
tiyabaw
tugaw
agiw
batiwtiw
kulisiw
paksiw
alasiwsiw
bigiw
iliw
piliw
baliw
kiriw
lagtiw
pitiw
baliwliw
kitiw
lingiw
taliwtiw
balay
hulagway
malaw-ay
subay
bugay
humay
panagway
sugkay
kapay
lukay
punay
tugway
kutay
lugway
pusgay
tulay
antuhoy
kutoy
hutoy
siloy
bakhoy
guroy
mananoy
sunoy
balanghoy
hoy
mangloy
taghoy
kahoy
huboy
pahoy
tuboy
buyboy
huyhoy
saguysoy
tuy-od
buy-od
luy-a
suyla
tuytoy
kuykoy
luyloy
tuybo
uy
huy-ang
puypoy
tuyhad
uylap
-
bakalaw
badyaw
cacao
-
kakaw
-
awto
kawsa
hawla
automatico
flauta
pausa
-
awtomatiko
plawta
pawsa
-
ayroplano
aerosol
-
ayrosol
baile
fraile
traidor
-
bayle
prayle
traydor
caida
paracaidas
-
kayda
parakayda
aceite
-
asayte
reina
-
rayna
c. EYA for EA -asamblea
beato
idea
-
asembleya
beyato
ideya
azotea
empleado
teatro
-
asoteya
empleyado
teyatro
d. EYO for EO -ateo
mausoleo
panteon
teologo
torneo
-
ateyo
musoleyo
panteyon
teyologo
torneyo
ideologia
museo
teologia
teoria
trofeo
-
ideyolohiya
museyo
teyolohiya
teyoriya
tropeyo
e. EYU for EU -eucalipto
eunuco
-
eyukalipto
eyunuko
Eucaristia
reuma
-
Eyukaristiya
reyuma
b. IW
c. AY
d. OY
e. UY
2. Spanish diphthongs:
a. AW for AO, AU -1) AO:
bacalao
badjao
2) AU:
auto
causa
jaula
b. AY for AE, AI, EI -1) AE:
aeroplano
2) AI:
3) EI:
f. IYA for IA -- when "i" is separately sounded from "a," as in "iya." (Cf. YA, infra.)
xxiv
academia
analogia
anomalia
bahia
bateria
biografia
caligrafia
categoria
confianza
destileria
dialogo
diametro
dinastia
economia
estrategia
galeria
guardia
idolatria
ingenieria
liturgia
mayoria
minoria
monarquia
profecia
psiquiatria
simpatia
taquigrafia
terminologia
-
g. IYE for IE – (Cf. YE, infra.)
abierto
cientifico
concierto
fiesta
infierno
mientras
pier
por ciento
tiempo
-
akademiya
analohiya
anomaliya
bahiya
bateriya
biyograpiya
kaligrapiya
kategoriya
kompiyansa
destileriya
diyalogo
diyametro
dinastiya
ekonomiya
istratehiya
galeriya
guwardiya
idolatriya
enhinyeriya
liturhiya
mayoriya
minoriya
monarkiya
propesiya
sikiyatriya
simpatiya
takigrapiya
terminolohiya
amnistia
anatomia
averia
barberia
Biblia
biologia
caloria
cirugia
cortesia
diacono
diamante
diana
disenteria
energia
filosofia
garantia
herejia
industria
litania
loteria
melodia
molestia
ortografia
psicologia
punteria
sinfonia
tecnologia
tesoreria
-
amnestiya
anatomiya
aberiya
barberiya
Bibliya
biyolohiya
kaloriya
siruhiya
kortesiya
diyakono
diyamante
diyana
disenteriya
enerhiya
pilosopiya
garantiya
erehiya
industriya
litaniya
loteriya
melodiya
molestiya
ortograpiya
sikolohiya
punteriya
simponiya
teknolohiya
tesoreriya
abiyerto
siyentipiko
konsiyerto
piyesta
impiyerno
miyentras
piyer
porsiyento
tiyempo
ciencia
cliente
dieta
gobierno
miembro
nieve
pieza
siempre
-
siyensiya
kliyente
diyeta
gobiyerno
miyembro
niyebe
piyesa
siyempre
h. IYO for IO -- when "i" is separately sounded from "o," as in "iyo." (Cf. YO, infra.)
adios
- adiyos
avio
- abiyo
batio
- batiyo
Dios
- Diyos
cambio
- kambiyo
colegio
- kolehiyo
elogio
- elohiyo
indigestion
- indihestiyon
limpio
- limpiyo
nervioso
- nerbiyoso
privilegio
- pribilehiyo
proverbio
- proberbiyo
religioso
- relihiyoso
soberbio
- soberbiyo
tiovivo
- tiyobibo
vacio
- basiyo
i. IYO for UIO -guion
-
giyon
quiosco
-
kiyosko
j. IYU for IU -ciudad
-
siyudad
viuda
-
biyuda
k. OWA for OA -proa
-
prowa
l. OWI for OI -oido
-
owido
tiroides
-
tirowides (thyroid gland)
m. SIYA (CIA, TIA). -- When “cia” or “tia” in foreign words (Latin and Spanish) is preceded by a consonant.
alcancia
- alkansiya
ambulancia
- ambulansiya
comerciante
- komersiyante
competencia
- kompetensiya
conferencia
- komperensiya
diferencia
- diperensiya
xxv
distancia
evidencia
ganancia
importancia
licencia
presencia
referencia
resistencia
sustancia
-
distansiya
ebidensiya
ganansiya
importansiya
lisensiya
presensiya
reperensiya
resistensiya
sustansiya
emergencia
experiencia
ignorantia
indulgentia
poenetentia
provincia
residencia
sentencia
vagancia
-
emerhensiya
eksperiyensiya
ignoransiya
indulhensiya
penitensiya
probinsiya
residensiya
sentensiya
bagansiya
n. SYA (CIA, SIA) -- When “cia” or “sia” in foreign words is preceded by a vowel.
amnesia
- amnesya
democracia
- demokrasya
diplomacia
- diplomasya
fantasia
- pantasya
farmacia
- parmasya
franquicia
- prangkisya
gracia
- grasya
iglesia
- iglesya
justicia
- hustisya
malicia
- malisya
negociante
- negosyante
noticia
- notisya
o. SIYO (CIO, TIO) -- When “cio” or “tio” in foreign words is preceded by a consonant.
anuncio
- anunsiyo
comercio
- komersiyo
divorcio
- diborsiyo
rancio
- ransiyo
silencio
- silensiyo
tercio
- tersiyo
p. SYO (CIO, TIO) -- When "cio” or “tio” in foreign words is preceded by a vowel.
bocio
- bosyo
beneficio
- benepisyo
edificio
- edipisyo
hospicio
- ospisyo
negocio
- negosyo
oficio
- opisyo
palacio
- palasyo
precio
- presyo
sacrificio
- sakripisyo
servicio
- serbisyo
socio
- kasosyo
vicio
- bisyo
q. SIYON (CION, SION, TION, XION) -- When “cion,” "sion," “tion,” or "xion" in foreign words is preceded by a
consonant.
aborcion
- aborsiyon
accion
- aksiyon
atencion
- atensiyon
cancion
- kansiyon
collection
- koleksiyon
conexion
- koneksiyon
correccion
- koreksiyon
corrupcion
- korupsiyon
dimension
- dimensiyon
diversion
- dibersiyon
eleccion
- eleksiyon
excursion
- ekskursiyon
extension
- ekstensiyon
faccion
- paksiyon
intencion
- intensiyon
invencion
- imbensiyon
inyeccion
- ineksiyon
leccion
- leksiyon
pension
- pensiyon
proteccion
- proteksiyon
recepcion
- resepsiyon
seccion
- seksiyon
seleccion
- seleksiyon
transaction
- transaksiyon
r. SYON (CION, SION, TION) -absolucion
ambicion
calificacion
combinacion
complicacion
conclusion
consagracion
curacion
decoracion
deprecion
discrecion
donacion
edicion
evolucion
exploration
graduacion
imaginacion
impresion
irrigacion
-
When "cion,” "sion," or “tion” in foreign words is preceded by a vowel.
absolusyon
alegacion
- alegasyon
ambisyon
bendicion
- bendisyon
kalipikasyon
circulacion
- sirkulasyon
kombinasyon
comision
- komisyon
komplikasyon
comunicacion
- komunikasyon
kongklusyon
condicion
- kondisyon
konsagrasyon
coronacion
- koronasyon
kurasyon
decision
- desisyon
dekorasyon
delegacion
- delegasyon
depresyon
devocion
- debosyon
diskresyon
discusion
- diskusyon
donasyon
educacion
- edukasyon
edisyon
emocion
- emosyon
ebolusyon
exhibition
- eksibisyon
eksplorasyon
fusion
- pusyon
graduwasyon
ilusion
- ilusyon
imahinasyon
imitacion
- imitasyon
impresyon
inmigracion
- imigrasyon
irigasyon
limitacion
- limitasyon
xxvi
maldicion
ocasion
particion
perdicion
polucion
presion
proclamacion
promulgacion
proposicion
ration
regulacion
revision
revolucion
situacion
suposicion
television
tradicion
vacacion
-
maldisyon
okasyon
partisyon
perdisyon
polusyon
presyon
proklamasyon
promulgasyon
proposisyon
rasyon
regulasyon
rebisyon
rebolusyon
sitwasyon
suposisyon
telebisyon
tradisyon
bakasyon
meditacion
oracion
pasion
plantacion
posicion
procesion
promocion
profesion
provision
recomendacion
relacion
revocacion
sesion
solucion
transportacion
tentacion
transicion
votacion
-
meditasyon
orasyon
pasyon
plantasyon
posisyon
prosesyon
promosyon
propesyon
probisyon
rekomendasyon
relasyon
rebokasyon
sesyon
solusyon
transportasyon
tentasyon
transisyon
botasyon
s. SYU for CEU -farmaceutica
-
parmasyutika
t. UWA for UA -estatua
guachinango
guapa
guardia
santuario
-
istatuwa
guwatsinanggo
guwapa
guwardiya
santuwaryo
graduar
guano
guante
mariguana
suave
-
graduwar
guwano
guwantes
marihuwana
suwabe
u. UWE for UE -absuelto
duelo
dueto
fuerza
mueble
muestra
puerta
puesto
suerte
tuerca
-
absuwelto
duwelo
duweto
puwersa
muwebles
muwestra
puwerta
puwesto
suwerte
tuwerka
afuera
duende
fuerte
juez
muelle
puede
pues
sueldo
sueter
vuelta
-
puwera
duwende
puwerte
huwes
muwelye
puwede
puwes
suweldo
suweter
buwelta
v. UWI for UI -buitre
linguistica
-
buwitre
lingguwistika
descuido
prejuicio
-
deskuwido
perhuwisyo
w. UY for UE -bueno
escuela
juego
prueba
tachuela
-
buyno
eskuyla
huygo
pruyba
tatsuylas
consuelo
hueco
nueve
rueda
vuelo
-
konsuylo
huyko
nuybe
ruyda
buylo
x. UYA for UIA -alleluia
-
aleluya
y. WA for UA -acuario
agua
baluarte
igual
-
akwaryum
agwa
balwarte
igwales
aduana
aguantar
carruaje
naguas
-
adwana
agwanta
karwahe
nagwas
z. WE for UE -huelga
la huerta
-
welga
lagwerta
huelgista
unguento
-
welgista
ungwento
aa. YA for EA, IA -- when letter "e" or "i" is sounded together with "a," as in "ya."
xxvii
1) EA:
correa
-
koreya
hectarea
-
ektarya
-
alyado
bigamya
kopradya
komedya
editoryal
epidemya
estudyante
istorya
manya
memorya
perpidya
sekundarya
bacteria
cafeteria
colonia
copia
elementaria
especial
feria
malaria
media
novia
primaria
tragedia
-
bakterya
kapeterya
kolonya
kopya
elementarya
espesyal
perya
malarya
medya
nobya
primarya
trahedya
2) IA:
aliado
bigamia
cofradia
comedia
editorial
epidemia
estudiante
historia
mania
memoria
perfidia
secundaria
bb. YE for IE -- when YE is at the beginning of the word or is preceded by a consonant.
corriente
- kuryente
desierto
- desyerto
hielo
- yelo
hierba
- yerba
hierbabuena
- yerbabuyna
hierro
- yero
ingeniero
- enhinyero
merienda
- meryenda
paciente
- pasyente
pariente
- paryente
serie
- serye
teniente
- tenyente
cc. YO for IO -- when letter "i" is sounded together with "o," as in "yo."
adulterio
- adulteryo
alivio
aluminio
- aluminyo
amperio
andamio
- andamyo
apio
avion
- abyon
barrio
boticario
- botikaryo
calendario
calvario
- kalbaryo
campanario
capitolio
- kapitolyo
cementerio
cimborio
- simboryo
comentario
condominio
- kondominyo
crematorio
curioso
- kuryoso
demonio
diario
- diyaryo
dispensario
dormitorio
- dormitoryo
evangelio
herbolario
- albularyo
idioma
incensario
- insensaryo
inventario
laboratorio
- laboratoryo
lirio
microbio
- mikrobyo
misterio
monasterio
- monasteryo
novio
opio
- opyo
pandemonio
patio
- patyo
plenario
premio
- premyo
principio
radio
- radyo
remedio
rosario
- rosaryo
santuario
secretario
- sekretaryo
seminario
serio
- seryo
sitio
solitario
- solitaryo
telescopio
temporario
- temporaryo
testimonio
veterinario
- beterinaryo
voluntario
-
alibyo
amperyo
apyo
baryo
kalendaryo
kampanaryo
sementeryo
komentaryo
krematoryo
demonyo
dispensaryo
ebanghelyo
idyoma
imbentaryo
liryo
misteryo
nobyo
pandemonyo
plenaryo
prinsipyo
remedyo
santuwaryo
seminaryo
sityo
teleskopyo
testimonyo
boluntaryo
SOME COMMON BORROWINGS
1. Loan words. – No change in spelling with little or no translation.
abnormal
absoluto
abusar
admitir
adorno
alarma
amen
amigo
amoroso
andador
andar
andas
apostol
apurado
armado
asno
aspirante
asunto
ayuda
bala
baldado
banda
bandido
baradero
barbero
bastidor
baston
abuso
altar
amor proprio
antena
asilo
atraso
balsamo
barato
basura
xxviii
bata (bathrobe)
biberon
boda
bordon
datos
deposito
dignidad
diploma
durar
ensayo
epistola
gasa
grano
gusto
iman
inutil
letra
libreto
lista
lona
maldita
mani
margarina
maton
ministro
moderno
moroso
multa
normal
paisano
pasamano
permanente
pito
plata
pluma
postre
problema
pulgada
rebelde
repaso
resulta
robot
seguridad
sermon
simbolo
sistema
solda
subida
suspenso
tablado
tarima
temprano
tesorero
tintura
tomar
torpe
tratar
trono
batuta
bikini
bodega
brigada
delantera
despedida
dilatar
distrito
edad
entero
gabinete
gastador
grasa
harina
inodoro
lapida
libelo
libro
litro
lote
maleta
maniobra
marmol
mayonesa
mitad
montura
mota
natural
otro
pala
paso
permiso
planeta
playa
pobre
postura
programa
puntera
regadera
rematado
retobado
rotunda
semana
siglo
sinagoga
soborno
solemne
submarino
sustento
talento
telon
tener
testamento
tirada
tonto
torpedo
tribunal
tropa
bayoneta
bisagra
bolsa
dama
delegado
destino
dimitir
dorar
elemento
entrada
galon
gasto
gratis
hilo
importante
latigo
libra
lila
lobo
luto
mandar
mano
martir
milagro
moda
monumento
moton
negar
pabilo
pantalan
pastor
perno
plano
plema
popular
prenda
propaganda
purga
regalo
remate
ribete
sagrado
senado
silaba
sintoma
sobra
soneto
superior
sutil
tal fulano
tema
termino
timon
tirador
toril
total
trigo
urinola
bendita
blusa
bombo
dados
delicadeza
diga
dinamita
durable
embutido
entrega (delivery)
gana
gobernador
grumete
ignorante
intriga (intrigue)
laton
libre
linimento
logro
maestro
mando
manso
masa
mineral
modelo
morado
motorista
nochebuena
padrina
paraiso
pepino
personalidad
planta
plomo
poste
presentar
protesta
puta
reglamento
retrato
ritmo
seda
sentido
silbato
sirena
sobre
subasta
suplemento
tabla
talon
templo
terno
tinta
tirantes
toro
trapo
tripulante
urna
2. Paronymous words. -- Spelling of some words are changed to distinguish their meaning.
abono (fertilizer)
abuno (fill; filler)
asoge (mercury; quicksilver)
asugi (gunpowder)
bola (ball)
bula (foam; suds)
boya (buoy)
buya (match)
bomba (bomb)
bumba (pump)
kopa (chalice)
kupa (cup)
xxix
kota (quota)
koto (limit; control)
entrega (deliver)
lona (canvass)
ohas (sheet)
osa (deer)
oso (bear)
pondo (anchor)
sopas (soup)
tono (tone)
-
kuta (fortress)
kuto (cottie; louse)
intriga (intrigue)
luna (place)
uhas (bit)
usa (one)
uso (trend; bandwagon)
pundo (fund)
supas (pastry)
tuno (tune)
3. Substandard paronymous words –
Spanish roots
Noun/adjective
agraviar
agravio
bandeja
tray; platter (Eng.)
boxeo
boxeador
dibujo
dibujante
ejecutar
ejecutor
esgrima
esgrimista
hacienda
haciendado
ocio (idleness)
oscioso (idle)
perder
perdedor
seguro
segurador
serio
serious (Eng.)
trabajo
trabajador
viaje
viajero
Cebuano substandard version
agrabyado
bandihado
boksingero
dibuhista
hekutado
eskrimador
asyendero
usyosera (pryer; meddler)
pildiro
segurista/segurado
seryoso
trabahante
biyahedor
PROPER NOUNS
1. Scientific symbols and elements in chemistry, physics, biology, etc. shall retain its order.
H2O (water)
- tubig
NaCl (salt)
- asin
- kalburo
Ca (calcium)
- kalsiyum
CaC2 (calcium carbide)
CaO (lime)
- apog
Sn (tin)
- istanyo
CO2 (carbon dioxide) – karbon diyoksido
Cu (copper)
- kobre
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) - agua oxigenada
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) – asido sulpuriko
2. Names of local places, streets, and provinces:
Bonbon
Colon
Dumanjug
Looc
Marinduque
Nueva Caceres
Pooc
Poog
Talibon
Tanjay
Cordova
Mandaue
Opon
Sogod
Valencia
Danao
Maribojoc
Pajac
Sugbu
Zamboanga
3. Titles, names of persons of foreign derivation shall not be altered:
Allah
Buddha
Churchill
Einstein
Elizabeth
Gregory
Holmes
Immanuel
Kennedy
Nicole
Obama
Reagan
Thatcher
Venus
William
Dalai Lama
Hercules
Levin
Samson
Xerxes
4. Likewise of countries and states:
Australia
Hawaii
London
Scotland
Ukraine
Guam
Israel
Qatar
Tibet
Zambia
Brazil
Hongkong
Malaysia
Samoa
Vienna
Brunei
Jerusalem
Paris
Singapore
Vietnam
5. Also of trade marks, trade names, business names, etc.:
Band-Aid
Bristol
Chevrolet
Colgate
Gatorade
Jockey
Levi’s
Mitsubishi
Nokia
Pentax
Rolex
Samsung
Sony
Volkswagen
Windows
Coke
Lacoste
Panasonic
SeГ±orita
Xerox
6. Names of persons of Spanish derivation shall not be altered:
Jesus
Maria
Jose
Juan
xxx
Pedro
Domingo
Lucas
Paz
Bienvenido
Felipe
Magdalena
Rosario
Concepcion
Guillermo
Moises
Soledad
Caridad
Isabel
Pablo
Timoteo
7. Titles, names of places, peoples, languages, world organizations, etc. adopted from Spanish shall likewise be retained:
Alemanya
Aprika
Arabigo
Asya
Belen
Korinto
Ehipto
Gresya
Hapon
Hudeyo
Indiya
Ingglatera
Italyano
Jesukristo
Mesiyas
Olandiya
Pakistani
Palestina
Pransiya
Roma
Romanya
Rusya
Tsina
Uropa
Istados Unidos o Tinipong Kabansaan sa Amerika
Tinipong Kanasoran (United Nations)
SYLLABIFICATION
Syllabification is the act, process, or method of forming or dividing words into syllables.
monophthongal and diphthongal.
A. Native words -A Cebuano syllable may consist of:
1. Vowel (V) -- monosyllable
A-bog
A-li-ma
A-lom
bag-O
bun-I
I-kaw
I-bot
I-na-to
U-bos
U-kay
U-lay
U-yok
2. Consonant and Vowel (CV) – prevocalic syllable
BA-lay
BU-nga
KA-hoy
GU-bot
HA-mis
LA-mi-an
LU-kot
MA-ta-hom
PA-hoy
DA-lan
LI-goy
SI-gay
3. Vowel and Consonant (VC) – postvocalic syllable
AG-hat
AM-bot
AP-yo-gon
IM-baw
IN-ta-won
mug-OT
uk-OK
UN-ta
UN-tol
bug-AT
tim-OS
UP-hag
4. Consonant, Vowel, and Consonant (CVC)
ba-LIK
ka-SAD-ya
la-MAW
ma-nu-LON-da
pig-SAT
TAG-hoy
DUG-mok
PAK-siw
YAG-pis
KUT-lo
MUM-ho
TUT-ho
5. Consonant, Consonant, and Vowel (CCV)18 – open syllable
NGA-lan
NGA-no
NGI-ob
NGI-pon
NGI-si
NGU-lob
ku-lo-NGO
PLA-ming-ko
su-NGO
NGI-lit
bu-NGI
tu-NGA
6. Consonant, Consonant, Vowel, and Consonant (CCVC)
ba-NGAW
KRIS
du-NGOY
hu-NGAW
la-NGIT
li-NGIW
NGIS-lo
pa-NGOS
si-NGOT
huk-NGAY
mi-NGAW
tu-NGAS
7. Vowel and Consonant-NG (VCng)
ING (iЕ‹)
hut-ONG (hut-oЕ‹)
pul-ONG (pul-oЕ‹)
puk-ONG (puk-oЕ‹)
sil-ING (sil-iЕ‹)
tak-ANG (tak-aЕ‹)
pi-ANG (pi-aЕ‹)
sam-ANG (sam-aЕ‹)
ta-ki-ANG (ta-ki-aЕ‹)
8. Consonant, Vowel, Consonant-NG (CVCng)
am-PING (am-piЕ‹)
kim-PANG (kim-paЕ‹)
LUNG-sod (luЕ‹-sod)
MANG-gad (maЕ‹-gad)
SING-hag (siЕ‹-hag)
TANG-kil (taЕ‹-kil)
la-MANG (la-maЕ‹)
PUNG-ko (puЕ‹-ko)
tug-BONG (tug-boЕ‹)
B. Foreign Derivatives –
1. Some loan words are syllabified based on its original syllabification.
amoroso
- a-mo-ro-so
balde
bolsa
- bol-sa
elemento
gusto
- gus-to
linimento
-
bal-de
e-le-men-to
li-ni-men-to
In Cebuano, it is
xxxi
maestro
motorista
pasamano
sermon
-
ma-es-tro
mo-to-ris-ta
pa-sa-ma-no
ser-mon
manso
pabilo
peste
terno
-
man-so
pa-bi-lo
pes-te
ter-no
2. Paronymous words are syllabified based on Cebuano language it being epenthetic. The pronunciation of
diphthongal foreign roots changes upon insertion of a letter to a word when nativized or naturalized.
aduana
- ad-wa-na
aguantar
- ag-wan-ta
baluarte
- bal-war-te
guapa
- gu-wa-pa
juez
- hu-wes
limpio
- lim-pi-yo
muestra
- mu-wes-tra
puesto
- pu-wes-to
sueldo
- su-wel-do
tuerca
- tu-wer-ka
3. Epenthesized foreign diphthongs:
a. I-YA for IA – when "i" is separatedly sounded from "a," as in "i-ya."
academia
- a-ka-de-mi-ya
amnistia
analogia
- a-na-lo-hi-ya
anatomia
anomalia
- a-no-ma-li-ya
averia
bahia
- ba-hi-ya
barberia
bateria
- ba-te-ri-ya
Biblia
destileria
- des-ti-le-ri-ya
diacono
dialogo
- di-ya-lo-go
diamante
diametro
- di-ya-me-tro
diana
monarquia
- mo-nar-ki-ya
ortografia
profecia
- pro-pe-si-ya
psicologia
psiquiatria
- si-ki-ya-tri-ya
punteria
-
am-nes-ti-ya
a-na-to-mi-ya
a-be-ri-ya
bar-be-ri-ya
Bi-bli-ya
di-ya-ko-no
di-ya-man-te
di-ya-na
or-to-gra-pi-ya
si-ko-lo-hi-ya
pun-te-ri-ya
b. YA for IA – when "i" is sounded together with "a," as in "ya."
aliado
- al-ya-do
bacteria
bigamia
- bi-gam-ya
cafeteria
cofradia
- kop-rad-ya
colonia
comedia
- ko-med-ya
copia
editorial
- e-di-tor-yal
elementaria
estudiante
- es-tud-yan-te
feria
historia
- is-tor-ya
media
perfidia
- per-pid-ya
primaria
secundaria
- se-kun-dar-ya
tragedia
-
bak-ter-ya
ka-pe-ter-ya
ko-lon-ya
kop-ya
e-le-men-tar-ya
per-ya
med-ya
pri-mar-ya
tra-hed-ya
c. IYE for IE –
abierto
cientifico
concierto
fiesta
infierno
mientras
pier
siempre
-
si-yen-si-ya
kli-yen-te
di-ye-ta
go-bi-yer-no
mi-yem-bro
ni-ye-be
pi-ye-sa
ti-yem-po
-
a-bi-yer-to
si-yen-ti-pi-ko
kon-si-yer-to
pi-yes-ta
im-pi-yer-no
mi-yen-tras
pi-yer
si-yem-pre
ciencia
cliente
dieta
gobierno
miembro
nieve
pieza
tiempo
d. YE for IE – when YE is at the beginning of the word or is preceded by a consonant.
corriente
- kur-yen-te
desierto
- des-yer-to
hielo
- ye-lo
hierba
- yer-ba
hierbabuena
- yer-ba-buy-na
hierro
- ye-ro
ingeniero
- en-hin-ye-ro
merienda
- mer-yen-da
paciente
- pas-yen-te
pariente
- par-yen-te
serie
- ser-ye
teniente
- ten-yen-te
e. IYO -- when "i" is separately sounded from "o," as in "iyo."
adios
- a-di-yos
avio
batio
- ba-ti-yo
Dios
cambio
- kam-bi-yo
colegio
limpio
- lim-pi-yo
nervioso
privilegio
- pri-bi-le-hi-yo
proverbio
religioso
- re-li-hi-yo-so
soberbio
tiovivo
- ti-yo-bi-bo
vacio
f. YO -- when letter "i" is sounded together with "o," as in "yo."
-
a-bi-yo
Di-yos
ko-le-hi-yo
ner-bi-yo-so
pro-ber-bi-yo
so-ber-bi-yo
ba-si-yo
xxxii
alivio
amperio
avion
boticario
calvario
capitolio
cimborio
condominio
dormitorio
microbio
monasterio
patio
premio
rosario
secretario
serio
solitario
veterinario
-
a-lib-yo
am-per-yo
ab-yon
bo-ti-kar-yo
kal-bar-yo
ka-pi-tol-yo
sim-bor-yo
kon-do-min-yo
dor-mi-tor-yo
mik-rob-yo
mo-nas-ter-yo
pat-yo
prem-yo
ro-sar-yo
se-kre-tar-yo
ser-yo
so-li-tar-yo
be-te-ri-nar-yo
aluminio
andamio
barrio
calendario
campanario
cementerio
comentario
curioso
evangelio
misterio
pandemonio
plenario
principio
santuario
seminario
sitio
temporario
vicio
-
a-lu-min-yo
an-dam-yo
bar-yo
ka-len-dar-yo
kam-pa-nar-yo
se-men-ter-yo
ko-men-tar-yo
kur-yo-so
e-bang-hel-yo
mis-ter-yo
pan-de-mon-yo
ple-nar-yo
prin-sip-yo
san-tu-war-yo
se-mi-nar-yo
sit-yo
tem-po-rar-yo
bis-yo
g. SI-YA for CIA, TIA – When "cia" or "tia" (Latin and Spanish) is preceded by a consonant.
alcancia
- al-kan-si-ya
ambulancia
- am-bu-lan-si-ya
comerciante
- ko-mer-si-yan-te
distancia
- dis-tan-si-ya
ignorantia
- ig-no-ran-si-ya
indulgentia
- in-dul-hen-si-ya
licencia
- li-sen-si-ya
poenetentia
- pe-ni-ten-si-ya
provincia
- pro-bin-si-ya
sustancia
- sus-tan-si-ya
h. S-YA for CIA, SIA – When "cia" or "sia" in foreign words is preceded by a vowel.
democracia
- de-mo-kras-ya
diplomacia
- dip-lo-mas-ya
fantasia
- pan-tas-ya
farmacia
- par-mas-ya
gracia
- gras-ya
iglesia
- ig-les-ya
justicia
- hus-tis-ya
malicia
- ma-lis-ya
negociante
- ne-gos-yan-te
noticia
- no-tis-ya
i. SI-YO for CIO, TIO – When "cio" or "tio" in foreign words is preceded by a consonant.
anuncio
- a-nun-si-yo
comercio
- ko-mer-si-yo
divorcio
- di-bor-si-yo
rancio
- ran-si-yo
silencio
- si-len-si-yo
tercio
- ter-si-yo
j. S-YO for CIO, TIO – When "cio" or "tio" in foreign words is preceded by a vowel.
bocio
- bos-yo
beneficio
- be-ne-pis-yo
edificio
- e-di-pis-yo
negocio
- ne-gos-yo
oficio
- o-pis-yo
palacio
- pa-las-yo
precio
- presyo
sacrificio
- sa-kri-pis-yo
servicio
- ser-bis-yo
socio
- ka-sos-yo
k. SI-YON for CION,
consonant.
aborcion
collection
eleccion
invencion
pension
SION, TION, XION – When "cion," "sion," "tion," or "xion" in foreign words is precded by a
-
a-bor-si-yon
ko-lek-si-yon
e-lek-si-yon
im-ben-si-yon
pen-si-yon
accion
connexion
diversion
leccion
recepcion
-
ak-si-yon
ko-nek-si-yon
di-ber-si-yon
lek-si-yon
re-sep-si-yon
l. S-YON for CION, SION, TION – When "cion," "sion," or "tion" in foreign words is preceded by a vowel.
alegacion
- a-le-gas-yon
ambicion
- am-bis-yon
condicion
- kon-dis-yon
decision
- de-sis-yon
graduation
- gra-du-was-yon
imaginacion
- i-ma-hi-nas-yon
passion
- pas-yon
procesion
- pro-ses-yon
television
- te-le-bis-yon
vacacion
- ba-kas-yon
4. Adjoining Vowels and Consonants
a. When one of the adjoining consonants is either b, k, g, p, or t, and preceded by a vowel, syllabification is
between the vowel and the consonant (b, k, g, p, or t).
almagre
- al-ma-gre
asupre
- a-su-pre
- bi-sa-gra
bisikleta
- bi-si-kle-ta
bisagra
buwitre
- bu-wi-tre
katre
- ka-tre
xxxiii
kibra
imperdible
milagro
peligro
problema
sekreto
sobre
tableta
-
ki-bra
im-per-di-ble
mi-la-gro
pe-li-gro
pro-ble-ma
se-kre-to
so-bre
ta-ble-tas
kobre
imposible
motorsiklo
pobre
programa
siglo
tabla
tigre
-
ko-bre
im-po-si-ble
mo-tor-si-klo
po-bre
pro-gra-ma
si-glo
ta-bla
ti-gre
5. Adjoining Consonants
a. When one of the two adjoining consonants in the penultimate or ultimate syllable is "y," either preceded or
followed by a vowel, syllabification is between "y" and the other consonant.
bayle
- bay-le
buylo
- buy-lo
buyno
- buy-no
kalendaryo
- ka-len-dar-yo
kalye
- kal-ye
kalyo
- kal-yo
konsuylo
- kon-suy-lo
kuwelyo
- ku-wel-yo
kuryente
- kur-yen-te
meryenda
- mer-yen-da
premyo
- prem-yo
pruyba
- pruy-ba
ruyda
- ruy-da
teleskopyo
- te-les-kop-yo
b. When three consonants adjoined each other, the syllabification is between the first and the second consonant.
doktrina
- dok-tri-na
kalambre
- ka-lam-bre
kostumbre
- kos-tum-bre
elektroniko
- e-lek-tro-ni-ko
eskrima
- es-kri-ma
istambre
- is-tam-bre
- pos-tre
sastre
- sas-tre
postre
siyempre
- si-yem-pre
timbre
- tim-bre
c. When "ng" [Е‹] is followed by "g," the syllabification is between "ng" and "g."
- ing-gra-to
gaЕ‹grena
- gang-gre-na
iЕ‹grato
loЕ‹ganiza
- long-ga-ni-sa
maЕ‹guera
- mang-ge-ra
- pa-lang-ga-na
saЕ‹gra
- sang-gra
palaЕ‹gana
d. KS for CC – K and S are separated in syllabification:
accidente
- ak-si-den-te
accion
colleccion
- ko-lek-si-yon
correccion
diccionario
- dik-si-yo-nar-yo
eleccion
- im-pek-si-yon
inspeccion
infeccion
inyeccion
- i-nek-si-yon
leccion
-
ak-si-yon
ko-rek-si-yon
e-lek-si-yon
ins-pek-si-yon
lek-si-yon
e. KS for X -1) When KS are followed by a vowel, "k" and "s" are separated in syllabification.
boxing
- bok-sing
exacto
- ek-sak-to
examen
- ek-sa-min
exception
- ek-sep-si-yon
exorcismo
- ek-sor-sis-mo
oxigeno
- ok-si-he-no
seksi
- sek-si
taxi
- tak-si
2) When KS are followed by a consonant, "k" and "s" are joined in syllabification.
excursion
- eks-kur-si-yon
excomunion
- eks-ko-mun-yon
experto
- eks-per-to
explosion
- eks-plos-yon
explosivo
- eks-plo-si-bo
expresion
- eks-pres-yon
extension
- eks-ten-si-yon
extra
- eks-tra
sexto
- seks-to
texto
- teks-to
f. TS for CH -1) When the letters TS are in the beginning of the word, they are not separated in syllabification.
chaleco
- tsa-li-ko
champurrado - tsam-pu-ra-do
chapa
- tsa-pa
chaqueta
- tsa-ke-ta
cheque
- tse-ke
chico
- tsi-ko
- tsi-ne-las
chismes
- tsis-mis
chinela
chismosa
- tsis-mo-sa
chocolate
- tso-ko-la-te
chorizo
- tso-ri-so
chupon
- tsu-pon
2) When the letters TS are preceded by a vowel, "t" and "s" are separated in syllabification.
- kap-rit-so
coche
- kot-se
capricho
- kut-sa-ri-ta
cuchillo
- kut-sil-yo
cucharita
despachar
- dis-pat-sar
echar
- it-sa
xxxiv
fecha
hacha
lechon
pichel
sospecha
-
pet-sa
at-sa
let-son
pit-sel
sus-pet-sa
ficha
leche
pecho
puchero
tacha
-
pit-sas
let-se
pet-so
put-se-ro
tat-sa
3) When the letters TS are preceded by a consonant, "t" and "s" are joined in syllabification.
lancha
- lan-tsa
lanchon
- lan-tson
mancha
- man-tsa
marcha
- mar-tsa
- plan-tsa
rancho
- ran-tso
plancha
AFFIXATION
Affixation is the process of placing a syllable or syllables at the beginning, middle, or end of a word or word part to
change its meaning. In Cebuano, it includes metathesis, deletion or omission, substitution, transposition, or addition of
phonemes.
1. KINDS:
a. Prefix (Unanggikit) – comes at the beginning of the word.
KAgahom
KApikas
INalisngaw
INutang
19
NAHAgawas
NAHIabot20
PALAaway
WAYbatasan
DIMAgamit
MAGBUbuhis
PAGKAugma21
WAYhinungdan
b. Infix (Talinggikit) – is placed in the interior of the word.
gINamos
giPANGhatag
lINambay
pINahiluna
pINalit
pINangko
tINimbang
tINumpi
hINapnig
sINag-ulo
sINapid
tINughong
c. Suffix or postfix (Taponggikit) – comes at the end of the word.
bahandiANON
balhiboON
buangON
bulangAN
palitONON
piliONON
sakayanON
sungkabAN
bantogAN
bulanON
patongANAN
tampalasAN
2. METHODS:
a. Simple – when it uses either prefix, infix, or suffix.
adunaHAN
bINuhat
kINaraan
kINilaw
gubaON
INasal
mahalON
NAhulog
sINabaw
sINugba
KAsakay
gINamay
isdaANON
pANGHIMalad
tINula
b. Bilateral – when it uses both prefix and suffix.
KAlainAN
KAlibotAN
KAusabAN
INadlawAN
INatubangAY
MAKIlungsodNON
MAdaniHON
MAisogON
MApasayloON
MApig-otON
KAsilinganAN
INasinAN
MAdamgoHON
MAlangkobON
MAkinaadmanON
c. Compound – when it uses both infix and suffix.
bALansayON
bINuhiAN
hINakhakAN
hINulamAN
hINangyoAN
pINulongAN
sINingkaHAN
sINambogAN
sINimaAN
sINultiHAN
bINunyagAN
sINukmagAY
saLAwayON
sILimbaHON
tINigbasAN
d. Composite – when it uses prefix, infix, and suffix.
MAtINabangON
MAbINantayON
MAbINatiON
MAhINatagON
MAsINupakON
MAtINumanON
NAGhINilakAY
NAGkINawrasAY
MAsINabotON
MApINanggaON
NAGbINuligAY
NAGtINabangAY
e. Deleting -1) Vowel deleting – the final vowel of the root is deleted after affixation; sometimes a hyphen is inserted.
xxxv
asawa
kabayo
guol
hilabot
laba
lisod
pilo
puno
sukod
sugot
taligama
tinuod
tulog
usab
-
PANGasawaONON
kabayoAN
KAguolANAN
MAhilabotANON
labaHANAN
KAlisodANAN
piloA
punoA
sukodA
MAsINugotANON
HItaligamaAN
MAtinuod-ANON
GIKAtulogAN
usabA
-
pangasaw(a)/-/onon
kabay(o)/-/an
kagu(o)l/-/anan
mahilab(o)tanon
lab(a)hanan
kalis(o)danan
pil(o)/-/a
pun(o)/-/a
suk(o)da
masinug(o)tanon
hitaligam(a)/-/an
matinu(o)d/-/-anon
gikatul(o)gan
us(a)ba
-
pangasaw-onon
kabay-an
kagul-anan
mahilabtanon
labhanan
kalisdanan
pil-a
pun-a
sukda
masinugtanon
hitaligam-an
matinud-anon
gikatulgan
usba
PAMbahaw
HIMbalikas
PANGkawkaw
PANGkawat
PANtikas
PANtulis
-
pam(b)ahaw
him(b)alikas
pang(k)awkaw
pang(k)awat
pan(t)ikas
pan(t)ulis
-
pamahaw
himalikas
pangawkaw
pangawat
panikas
panulis
-
pa(b)(a)nimalay
pam(b)an(a)honon
palas-(a)(n)ONON
-
panimalay
pamanhonon
palas-onon
f. Deleting and Substituting -1) Vowel and Consonant deleting and Consonant substituting
balon
balonANAN
- ba(l)/w/(o)nanan
halok
halokAN
- ha(l)/g/(o)kan
hibulong
KahibulongAN
- kahibu(l)(o)/d/ngan
lawod
KAlawodAN
- kalaw(o)(d)/r/an
luwa
luwaANAN
- lu(w)/d/(a)anan
palong
palongA
- pa(l)/g/(o)nga
tunob
tunobI
- tu(n)(o)/m/bi
turok
turokAN
- tu(r)/g/(o)kan
-
bawnanan
hagkan
kahibudngan
kalawran
lud-anan
pagnga
tumbi
tugkan
2) Consonant-deleting
bahaw
balikas
kawkaw
kawat
tikas
tulis
-
3) Vowel and Consonant deleting
balay
PAbaNIMAlay
bana
PAMbanaHONON
pas-an
pALas-anONON
2) Consonant deleting and substituting -bug-at
PAHIbug-at
bungtod
KAbungtod AN
duha
TAGduha
halad
haladAN
lingkod
lingkodANAN
lungsod
lungsodANON
matuod
KAPANGHImatuodAN
palad
paladAN
panimpalad MApanimpaladON
tahod
MAtINahodON
tinuod
MAtinuodON
tugkad
tULugkadON
-
pahi(b)/m/ug-at
- pahimug-at
kabungto(d)/r/an
- kabungtoran
tag(d)u/r/ha
- tagurha
hala(d)/r/an
- halaran
lingko(d)/r/anan
- lingkoranan
lungso(d)/r/anon
- lungsoranon
kapanghimatuo(d)/r/an - kapanghimatuoran
pala(d)/r/an
- palaran
mapanimpala(d)/r/on - mapanimpalaron
matinaho(d)/r/on
- matinahoron
matinuo(d)/r/on
- matinuoron
tulugka(d)/r/on
- tulugkaron
g. Metathetical – when there is transposition of two phonemes in a word after affixation.
1) Usually deleting the last vowel of the word.22 (Bracketed letters are transposed.)
gahom
- KAgahomANAN
- kaga[h](o)[m]anan
- kagamhanan
luhod
- luhodANAN
- lu[h](o)[d]anan
- ludhanan
pahimulos
- MApahimulosANON
- mapahimu[l](o)[s]anon - mapahimuslanon
putos
- putosON
- pu[t](o)[s]on
- puston
tanom
- KAtanomAN
- kata[n](o)[m]an
- katamnan
unom
- KAunomAN
- ka[u][n](o)/-/man
- kan-uman
2) Without necessarily deleting the last vowel of the root. (Bracketed letters are transposed.)
hatag
- hatagI
- (h)[a]tagi
- tagai
lima
- TAGlima
- tag[l][i]ma
- tagilma
tulo
- TINAGtulo
- tinag[t][u]lo
- tinagutlo
xxxvi
unom
-
TAG-unom
-
tag(-)un[-]om
-
tagun-om
CONTRACTION
Contraction is the shortening of a word or word group by omission of a letter or letters or sounds in the middle. This is
done when the first word (pronoun or adjective) that ends in vowel is followed by ka, ing, nga, and og. "Ing" is converted
to "y" in contraction; the noun should not be agglutinated, especially when placed ahead than the adjective.23
Ako ing
- Akoy
kinsa ing
- kinsay
mao ing
- maoy
siya ing
- siyay
unsa ing
- unsay
babaye nga bata
- babayeng bata (female child)
bata nga babaye
- batang babaye (baby girl)
buhi nga patay
- buhing patay (immortalized dead person)
dako nga kahoy
- dakong kahoy (not kahoyng dako)
laya nga dahon
- layang dahon (dried or withered leaf) – not dahong laya
mao nga
- maong (tawo)
pila ka/buok
- pilay (kanding sa bukid)
tulo ka
- tuloy(-sanga nga kahoy)
Note: Native words that end in consonants, such as g, n, w, and y may also be contracted.
gihapon ing
- gihapoy
lamang ing
- lamay
batan-on nga babaye
- batan-ong babaye (young girl)
karaan nga awit
- karaang awit
bahaw nga pagkaon
- bahawng pagkaon
buang nga iro
- buang iro (or iro buang not irong buang)
gamay nga dalan
- gamayng dalan
patay nga buhi
- patayng buhi (alive but deemed dead)
sungkaban nga iring
- sungkabang iring or iring sungkaban
taliwtiw nga ilong
- taliwtiwng ilong or ilong taliwtiw
bahag-og-ikog
- bahag-ikog
diyotay-og-tawo
- diyotayg-tawo
mabaw-og-buot
- mabawg-buot
SYNALOEPHA
Synaloepha or synalepha is the reduction to one syllable of two vowels of adjacent syllables. In Cebuano, apostrophe
need not be used and it may be done when the first word (pronoun or adjective) that ends in a vowel is followed by og.
baga-og-ngabil
- bagag-ngabil
baho-og-gininhawa
- bahog-gininhawa
bati-og-sinulatan
- batig-sinulatan
dako-og-balay
- dakog-balay
gahi-og-ulo
- gahig-ulo
haga-og-pamanit
- hagag-pamanit
luho-og-sapot
- luhog-sapot
pula-og-ngabil
- pulag-ngabil
puti-og-buhok
- putig-buhok
siga-og-mata
- sigag-mata
kuhai ko og uban
- kuhai kog uban
hatagan tika og mangga - hatagan tikag mangga
ikuha ko og tubig
- ikuha kog tubig
paliti ko og pan
- paliti kog pan
SYNIZESIS
Synizesis is the contraction of two syllables into one by uniting in pronunciation two adjacent vowels. In Cebuano, it is
promiment when spoken rather than written.
bugawa ang iro
- bugawang iro
kuhaa ang libro
- kuhaang libro
hangyoa ang tindera
- hangyoang tindera
hugasi ang baso
- hugasing baso
imna ang tuba
- imnang tuba
lung-aga ang saging
- lung-agang saging
xxxvii
pakan-a ang iring
pagnga ang suga
sirhi ang pultahan
-
pakan-ang iring
pagngang suga
sirhing pultahan
APHAERESIS
Aphaeresis is the omission or deletion of one or more letters or sounds at the beginning of the word.
aliwati
wati
aluhipan
uhipan
banganga
nganga
bibingka
bingka
bulanit
lanit
kayamat
yamat
eksakto
sakto
haduol
duol
halapad
lapad
halawom
lawom
halayo
layo
hamubo
mubo
hataas
taas
intawon
tawon
maabtik
abtik
maalimuot
alimuot
maanindot
nindot
maantigo
antigo
maasgad
asgad
maaslom
aslom
mabaga
baga
mabaho
baho
mabangis
bangis
mabanha
banha
mabug-at
bug-at
mabugnaw
bugnaw
makamao
kamao
makatilingbanon katilingbanon
makusog
kusog
makuti
kuti
makuyaw
kuyaw
madanglog
danglog
madulom
dulom
magaan
gaan
magahi
gahi
mahabog
habog
mahagkot
hagkot
mahait
hait
mahalang
halang
mahamis
hamis
mahapdos
hapdos
mahapsay
hapsay
mahaw-ang
haw-ang
mahawot
hawot
mahayag
hayag
mahayahay
hayahay
mahigpit
higpit
mahilas
hilas
mahilom
hilom
mahinay
hinay
mahinlo
hinlo
mahugaw
hugaw
mahumok
humok
mahumot
humot
mahuyang
huyang
maidlot
idlot
maigang
igang
maigmat
igmat
mainggit
inggit
mainit
init
maisog
isog
malaay
laay
malaksot
laksot
malag-it
lag-it
malagsik
lagsik
malalim
lalim
malang-og
lang-og
malangsi
langsi
malantip
lantip
malapsaw
lapsaw
malasmo
lasmo
malaw-ay
law-ay
malayaw
layaw
maligdong
ligdong
malign-on
lig-on
malimtanon
limtanon
malinaw
linaw
malingin
lingin
malisod
lisod
malubog
lubog
malumoy
lumoy
mamingaw
mingaw
mangil-ad
ngil-ad
mangilngig
ngilngig
mangilo
ngilo
mangiob
ngiob
mangitngit
ngitngit
manipis
nipis
mapait
pait
masapnot
sapnot
masayon
sayon
masigpit
sigpit
masiot
siot
matab-ang
tab-ang
matam-is
tam-is
matig-a
tig-a
matin-aw
tin-aw
matugnaw
tugnaw
matulin
tulin
salampati
pati
APHESIS
Aphesis is the deletion of one or more vowels at the beginning of the word.
1. Native words
abay
bay
ako
akong
kong
atong
imong
mong
ining
ugod
god
upod
-
ko
tong
ning
pod
xxxviii
usa
-
2. Paronymous words
acolito
ahijado
desentunado elastico
empaste
esposas
memester
tatchuela
-
sa
usab
-
sab
kolitos
ihado (godchild)
sentunado
lastiko
pasta (tooth filling)
posas
mistil
suylas
afuera
aumento
ejecutar
embalsamar
enamorar
hebilla
quisquilloso
tombola
-
puwera
umento
hekutar
balsamar
amoral
bilya
asyoso
bola (raffle for charity)
Note: 1) There are borrowed words, however, where one or more letters or sounds are added at the beginning
of the words when nativized.
aya
yaya
forro
aporo
huerta
lagwerta
lana
delana
listo
alisto
mano
lamano
mesa
lamesa
socio
kasosyo
2) Further, there are borrowed words where one or more letters or sounds are added at the end of the
words when nativized.
camisa
kamisadentro
caramelo
karmelitos
paГ±uelo
panyolito
cilindro (Mex.) silindron
OMISSION OF LETTERS AND SOUNDS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE WORD
There are words where one or more letters or sounds are omitted at the beginning and at the end of the same
word.
1. Native words:
malinawon
-
linaw
2. Paronymous words:
acantilado
-
kantil
apisonadora
-
pison
SYNCOPE
Syncope is the loss of one or more letters or sounds in the interior of the word. Usually heard rather than read.
1. Native words:
alam-alam
am-am
alang-alang
ang-ang
alat
at
alimpulos
alimpus
alugbati
agbati
balas
bas
balat
bat
balay
bay
balayranan
bayranan
batikulon
batikun
bulalakaw
bulakaw
bulong
bung
bulos
bus
kahibulongan kahibudngan
kalag
kag
kalaha
kaha
kalamunggay kamunggay
kalas
kas
kalayo
kayo
kalumpang
kumpang
kalunggo
kunggo
kining
king
kulon
kun
kulong
kung
dalakit
dakit
dalag
dag
dalaga
daga
dalan
dan
dalangpanan dangpanan
danglog
dangog
dili
di
dulog
dug
dulong
dung
dulot
dut
galay
gay
gayod
gyod
gulot
gut
halad
had
halang
hang
hibalag
hibag
hibulong
hibung
hulog
hug
ngalan
ngan
ngulob
ngub
padulong
padung
palad
pad
palas-onon
pas-onon
palaw
paw
parulos
parus
piyesta
pista
pulog
pug
pulong
pung
xxxix
pulos
salabtonon
salagunting
salanga
salay
sanglag
sinanglay
sulog
sulong
talandogon
tulod
tulon
wala
-
pus
sabtonon
sagunting
sanga
say
sangag
sinangay
sug
sung
tandogon
tud
tun
wa
Example: Sinaulog ang Piyesta sa Senyor
2. Foreign words:
colerico
de ida y vuelta
disimular
-
salaag
salag
salamin
salapi
salaysay
sangyad
sulod
sulom
sunglog
tanglad
tulog
ulod
walay
-
-
saag
sag
samin
sapi
saysay
sagyad
sud
sum
sungog
tangad
tug
ud
way
Sinulog Pit Senyor
kolero
corazonada
idabuwelta (round-trip) desesperado dismular
fiesta (piyesta) -
kursonada
desperado
pista
APOCOPE
Apocope is the deletion of one or more letters or sounds at the end of the word. Thereafter, the final syllable shall
have a macron sound. These are prominent when spoken rather than written.
1. Native words:
agulo
agu (moan)
alimpulo
alimpu (noddle)
bala
ba (pickaback)
bulo
bu (arm wrestling)
kulo
ku (shrink)
dabahan
daba (earthen pot)
dala
da (carry)
lala
la (weave)
malala
mala (stingy)
mamala
mama (dry land)
mulo
mu (grievance)
napulo
napu (ten)
pala
pa (erase)
palapala
papa (trelis)
pulo
pu (island)
sala
sa (sin; sieve)
sinag-ulo
sinag-u (memorized)
sulo
su (torch)
sumala
suma (according to)
taliwala
taliwa (middle/center)
tulo
tu (dripping)
ulo
u (head)
2. Foreign words (without macron sound on the final syllable):
colocho
kulot (curly hair)
como esta usted limosna
limos (alms)
policia
por vida mia
porbida
(upon my soul)
(my goodness)
komosta (ka)
polis
TRANSPOSITION
Transposition is the change of position or sequence of letters in a word without a change in meaning.
1. Native words:
aluhipan
ulahipan
bailos
balios
bal-ang
lab-ang
balingis
balising
kaabin
kaanib
daktol
takdol
gimok
kimog
gulgol
luglog
hulom
humol
ipit
piit
pikas
sip-ak
puk-ong
pungko
pul-ong
pung-ol
sakgaw
sagkaw
tag-an
tagna
tagkos
takgos
tangdi
tanding
tulpok
tuplok
2. Spanish derivatives:
arado
hongo
-
daro
uhong
hawla
traste
- oOo –
-
halwa
tratse
xl
1
Approved by the Akademiyang Bisaya, Inc., a Cebu-based organization established to preserve and promote the
Cebuano language, in Resolution No. 04, January 7, 2011.
2
Wapedia – Wiki: Cebuano Language.
3
Trosdal, Mimi B., Formal-Functional Grammar of the Cebuano Language, Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation, Inc.,
1992.
4
Wapedia, supra.
5
Adopted by the Akademiyang Bisaya, Inc. per Resolution No. 02 dated September 27, 2010, based on "Gabay Sa
Ortograpiyang Filipino," Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Sangay ng Linggwistika, 2009.
6
Approved by the Akademiyang Bisaya on January 7, 2011.
7
Commonwealth Act No. 184, sub-paragraph 2.
8
www. citizendia.org./Spanish language in the Philippines.
9
Words formed from foreign roots or words. (See English-Visayan (Cebuano) Dictionary, Akademiyang Bisaya, Inc., 2009
ed.)
10
www.citizendia.org, supra.
11
Some old Cebuano words, patterned after Spanish orthography, have "ui" for "i."
guinadili
- ginadili
guimbut-an - gimbut-an
guinhapon - ginhapon
guinicanan - ginikanan
guiwanon - giwanon
quilat
- kilat
quimba
- kimba
quinilquig - kinilkig
quiГ±ajay
- kinyahay
quintahay - kintahay
quiot
- kiyot
tuquib
- tukib
12
Wapedia, supra.
13
The ligature or digraph "ng" [Е‹] had existed in the Philippines long before the Hispanic colonization. It is even a part of
the Alibata and in the Cebuano and Tagalog latinized alphabets. It is also extant in the Spanish and English languages
from which Cebuano is much orthographically influenced.
Some Spanish and English words with "Е‹":
Spanish
English
aЕ‹cla
anchor (aЕ‹-chor)
baЕ‹co
bank (baЕ‹k)
blaЕ‹co
blank (blaЕ‹k)
gaЕ‹grena
gangrene (gaЕ‹-gren)
moЕ‹je
monk (moЕ‹k)
taЕ‹que
tank (taЕ‹k)
Such ligature may only be transliterated into Cebuano as "ng." The Cebuano equivalents of the exampled Spanish
words are:
Spanish
Cebuano
aЕ‹cla
angkla (aЕ‹-kla)
baЕ‹co
bangko (baЕ‹-ko)
blaЕ‹co
blangko (blaЕ‹-ko)
gaЕ‹grena
ganggrena (gaЕ‹-gre-na)
moЕ‹je
monghe (moЕ‹-he)
taЕ‹que
tangke (taЕ‹-ke)
Gleaned therefrom, "Е‹" is found in the interior and at the end--never at the beginning of the word--as there is none. In
this case, it is a single-letter consonant with Cebuano equivalent "ng" [Е‹]. In Spanish, it is always followed by a
consonant.
However, the position of "ng" in Cebuano native words is at the beginning, interior, or end of the word.
Beginning:
ngaab
ngabil
ngalan
ngilit
ngiob
ngano
ngislo
nguho
ngulob
Interior:
1. Followed by a vowel –
bangaw
hungot
langit
lungag
mingaw
pangos
sinangag
singot
tungab
2. Followed by a consonant –
bangkaw (baЕ‹-kaw) bungtod (buЕ‹-tod) kangho (kaЕ‹-ho)
hangyo (haЕ‹-yo)
lingkod (liЕ‹-kod)
lungsod (luЕ‹-sod)
paningkamot (pa-niЕ‹-ka-mot)
manghod (maЕ‹-hod) tangkal (taЕ‹-kal)
End:
amping (am-piЕ‹)
bat-ang (bat-aЕ‹)
kaliring (ka-li-riЕ‹)
lamang (la-maЕ‹)
sabong (sa-boЕ‹)
gibang (gi-baЕ‹)
sundang (sun-daЕ‹) taming (ta-miЕ‹)
tugbang (tug-baЕ‹)
xli
When its position is at the beginning of the word, or in the interior of the word followed by a vowel (see above
examples), "ng" is a joint individual consonants. When it is found in the interior of the word followed by a consonant, or
when it is at the end of the word, "ng" is "ŋ" – a single-letter consonant.
14
Alibata is a pre-Hispanic Philippine writing system that originated from the Javanese script Old Kawi believed to be in
used in the Philippines as early as 14th century. It continued to be used during the Spanish colonization of the
Philippines until the 19th century.
15
Rubrico, Jessie Grace U., Cebuano Grammar Notes, 211098 / jaguar@broline.com.
16
Adopted by the Akademiyang Bisaya, Inc. in Resolution No. 02 dated September 27, 2010.
17
There is no transliteration of English diphthongs to Cebuano, as "scout" to "iskawt", but with the epenthesis of "o"
between "w" and "t" as "iskawot."
18
W and Y can never be used as a second consonant in the first syllable in syllabification of native words, such as
"kwarta," "swapang," "byahe," "pyado," "syatong," etc., but "kuwarta," "suwapang," "biyahe," "piyado," "siyatong," etc.
19
"NAHA-" is used when the affixed word starts with a consonant.
20
"NAHI-" is used when the affixed word starts with a vowel.
21
"PAGKA-" is a combining form, not a solideme. It refers to:
a. the act or process of doing something, as in "hulog" to "pagkahulog" (fall);
b. the office, position, rank, or term of a person holding the same, as in "mayor" to "pagkamayor" (mayorship),
"presidente" to "pagkapresidente" (presidency);
c. the qualities, state, or condition, as in "tawo" to "pagkatawo" (manhood o personality), "inahan" to "pagkainahan"
(motherhood);
d. preposition adverting to the time of or during, as in "tawo" to "pagkatawo" (birth or at the time of birth)
d. the arrival of expected event or time, as in "ugma" to "pagkaugma" (the next day), "hapon" to "pagkahapon" (in the
afternoon) not "nianang pagkahapon";
e. interjection, as in "tam-is" to "pagkatam-is" (not pagkatam-isa); "guwapa" to "pagkaguwapa" (not pagkaguwapaha).
22
Rubrico, op. cit.
23
In contraction, the noun should not be agglutinated, especially when placed ahead than the adjective, such as baboy
ihalas, manok Bisaya, sibuyas Bisaya, utan Bisaya, etc. It may, however, be hyphenated as baboy-ihalas, manokBisaya, sibuyas-Bisaya, utan-Bisaya, etc.
