HOW TO USE THE ENGLISH-VISAYAN CEBUANO

DICTIONARY
MAIN WORDS OR ENTRIES
(MGA NAG-UNANG PULONG)
by Atty. Cesar P. Kilaton, Jr

The main words or entries included in this dictionary English words and their meaning or
equivalent in Visayan-Cebuano. Its recognized that English dictionaries also borrow foreign words.
And so are some Visayan words which are adopted, such as water ox or carabao from karabaw, cogon
from kugon, lauan from lawaan, etc. Various English dictionaries were used for etymologies; scientific
and legal terms are likewise included. Phrasal verbs are also inserted usually under the main entries of
verbs.
Each main entry has an abbreviation for the appropriate part of speech. However, the editors of
this dictionary did not dare to create and classify the parts of speech of those words which the English
did not so classify, as, for example, idioms and some archaic foreign maxims and phrases.
ACCENTUATION
(KALIGDANGAN)
The Cebuano language has four (4) kinds of actual marks or diacritical marks.
1. Hantuo [] (accute accent) This mark is slanted forward and placed above the vowel given
with stress or emphasis.
bhaw bsa (read)
mmho pnggan

dgaw
suglon

hlbot
tingli

2. Hanla [`] (grave accent) This mark is slanted downward and placed above the vowel given
with stress or emphasis.
bat
buk
lumd
lust
magy puts
sigy
sil
3. Pahagsa [^] (circumflex accent) This mark formed like an arrowhead is placed above the
vowel of the syllable given stress.
bas (wet) bah
lugt
put

bugt
sub

hag
tah

4. Painat [] (prolonged accent) -This mark is used especially on abbreviated, contracted, or

apocoped words, such as:
malala
sulog

mala
sug

pulong - pung
ulo
- u

N.B.: Inasmuch as these accents are not found in the keys of a typewriter or even in ordinary
personal computers, writers just write their scripts without using them. To understand the words used
is just to comprehend the entire sentence, like the words bsa (read) and bas (wet).
Ang bata nagbasa og komiks. (reading)
Ang manok nabasa sa ulan. (wet)
STRESSES IN PRONUNCIATION
(MGA PANGHIMUG-AT SA KAPANGLITOKAN)
The stresses in pronunciation of the Cebuano language are classified into five (5):

1. Malumoy (penultimate stress). The stress is placed on the second from the last syllable.
bahin
lamian

baid
binuhat
kalipay
magbabaol panganod salimbong

2. Hundak (penultimate with glottal end). The stress is placed on the second from the last
syllable with glottal end.
baligho
huslo

bata
pagbati

bugto
kasaba
pinili tabako

3. Panumoy (end stress). The stress is placed at the end or on last syllable of the word.
baliko
palit

buhiskulong ligis
patay
sinako

tulod

4. Pahagsa (end stress with glottal end). The stress is placed at the end or on the last syllable
with glottal end.
bati
luko

bugha
luta

kasuko
salapi

dugo
tungha

5. Duhagsa (double stress with glottal end on both syllables or on the second or third and last
syllables). The stress is placed on two syllables or at the second or third syllable and on the last
syllable.
bata-bata
suso

kipi-kipi
taluto

lata-lata
tiki-tiki

mumo
titi
CEBUANO ALPHABET
(SINUGBUANONG TITIKANAN)

The pronunciation in the Cebuano language is based on the syllabic sound. Thus, each letter has
its own syllable. The vowels comprise of A, E, I, O, ug U; and the consonants are B, K, D, G, H, L, M,
N, P, R, S, T, W, ug Y. The vowels are each sounded with "-a," like Ba, Ka, Da, etc.
However, there are foreign words which are inevitably adopted, especially those without
equivalents to provide appropriate meaning. For this reason, the following letters may be loaned: C,
CH, F, J, Ll, , Q, RR, V, X and Z.
Scientific symbols in chemistry, physics, biology, etc. remain as they are.
H2O (water)
NaCl (salt)
Ca (calcium)
CaC2 (calcium carbide) CaO (lime)
Sn (tin)
-

tubig
asin
kalsiyum
kalburo
apog
istanyo

So are foreign-sounding names:

Churchill
Guillermo
Elizabeth
Jerez
Thatcher
William
As are the names of places:
Brazil
Vietnam
Zambia
Likewise business names, trade names and trade marks:
Band-Aid
Bristol
Coke
Colgate
Jockey
Levis
Mitsubishi
Pentax
Rolex
Volkswagen
Xerox
The mother-tongue translation of names of places and organizations may still be used:
Alemanya
Aprika
Arabigo
Asya
Ehipto
Espanya
Gresya
Hapon
Hudeya
Indiya
Inglatera
Italya
Palestina
Pransiya
Roma
Romanya
Rusya
Tsina

Uropa
Istados Unidos o Tinipong Bansa sa Amerika
Tinipong Kanasoran (United Nations)
ORTOGRAPHY
(PANITIKAN)
Ortography is part of the study of language which refers to letters and spelling. It emphasizes
writing using the correct letters based on standard use and rules of the language.
RULES IN THE CEBUANO SPELLING
(MGA LAGDA SA
SINUGBUANONG PANITIK)
A. VOWELS
1. A -- a. The sound of "a" in Cebuano language is always of short "a", like abaga, bahak, kaha,
dalaga, gaba, etc. The long "a" sound in English, such as, mate, pain, wait, etc. cannot be used. Any
sound similar to this, the letter "e" or "ey" will be used, like "cake" to "keyk."
b. Letter "a" is also used in adopting foreign words without changing the phonetics, such as:
abnormal
alibi
apply
natural
night club
time out

- abnormal
- alibay
- aplay
- natural
- nayt klab
- taym awot

2. E -- a. Letter e is used in adopting foreign words without changing the spelling.

alegre
almagre
bote
entrante
estomago
estropa
gabinete
ignorante
imperdible
imposible
interes
libre
lote
memorandum
peste
petsa
presidente
primera
rebelde
referendum

b. Letter "e" is also used in syllables to retain the source of the foreign words where the spelling
of the consonants is changed or consonants not found in the Cebuano alphabet.
calambre
camote
coche
fecha
fuerte
insurgente
inteligente
leche

- kalambre
- kamote
- kotse
- petsa
- puwerte
- insurhente
- intelihente
- letse

c. Letter "e is likewise used to retain the source of foreign words (English, Spanish, etc.) which
have an "e" equivalent in English and Spanish.
defensa
defense
economia
economy
ejercisio
exercise
eleccion
election
elefante
elephant
elegante
elegant
elemento
element
energia
energy
especial
special
experimento experiment

depensa
ekonomiya
ehersisyo
eleksiyon
elepante
elegante
elemento
enerhiya
espesyal
eksperimento

Exceptions: 1) If the Spanish word has no spelling equivalent in English, letter "e" may be
changed to "i."
ataque avance cabeza es poco capella estaca
capellan estacion empacho estar
empaque estatua empella estilo
escandaloestorbo escultor estructuracajeta
caldero -

ataki
abansi
kabisa
ispoko
kapilya
istaka
kapilyan
istasyon
impatso
istar
impaki
istatuwa
impilya
istilo
iskandalo
istorbo
iskultor
istruktura
kahita
kaldiro

cantena combate enano

espejo flete
mantel mantener relevo
salvaje serrado tendera tenedor -

kantina
kombati
inano
ispiho
plite
mantil
mantinir
relibo
salbahi
sirado
tindera
tinidor

2) If the Spanish word uses "i" but with English equivalent in "e", the latter letter may be used:
actriz

actress

aktres

d. If the English word to be used in the local language has a long "a" phonetic sound the letter
may be changed to "ey"; short a phonetic sound may be changed to "e".
Long a:
cake
date
late

keyk
deyt
leyt

Short a:
candy

kendi

e. If the rootword of a foreign word starts or ends with a syllable with "e" and an affix is added,
"e" may be changed to "i."
bayle
bigote
kamote
kape
higante
tental

baylihan
bigotilyo
kamotihan
kapihan
higantihon
maninintal

3. I -- a. Letter i is used in all native words:

baki
kitiw
iti
pinili

bahi
gahi
itik
sinipit

bati
hilit
lili
singgit

kiki
ihi
ngilit
titi

Exception: There are native words where "e" is used instead of "i."
babaye

pangadye

butete

sikwate

b. Letter i is also used in foreign words for ue, ui, or uie.

ataque
empaque
guerra
guerrilla
guia
guisado
guisar
higuera
queibrar
quilate
quinque
quiosco

ataki
impaki
giyera
girilya
giya
gisado
gisal
igira
kibra
kilates
kingki
kiyosko

c. Letter i is likewise used in adopted English words with double "e" (ee).
jamboree
jeep
referee

dyambori
dyip
reperi

d. Letter i is likewise used in adopted words ending in "y" pronounced as short "i."
allergy
sexy
sorry
X-ray

alerdyi
seksi
sori
Iksri

e. Letter "i" is also used in place of letter "e" of Spanish words with English translation starting
with "s":
escala
escandalo
escriba
escribiente
escritura
escultura
estaca
estatuwa

scale
scandal
scribe
scribe
script
sculpture
stake
statue

iskala
iskandalo
iskriba
iskribiyente
iskritura
iskultura
istaka
istatuwa

4. O -- a. Letter o is used in the last syllable of the native word:

balod
dako
lukot
nahot

bato
guso
luog
pusod

bukong
hilo
maot
sungsong

kuko
libot
nasod
takong

Exception: If the borrowed word ends in "u" or has "u" in the last syllable, the Cebuano word
also uses "u" in its last syllable or its last letter.
album
bonus
krus
menu

asul
baul (chest, trunk) birtud
kawkus
korum
kopun
espiritu
isyu
memorandum
reperendum segun tribu

b. Letter o is retained if "o" is used in the first syllable of foreign or borrowed word.
aporo
bola
bolkan
bolsa
bomba (bomb)
botante
boto(vote) komusta
kosina kota (quota) koto (limit) dosis
mota
obra
ostiya
pobre
polis
politika
pondo porma
sobre
solitaryo
tokador tomar
tonto
toril
tornilyo
toro
torpedo torta
tortilyas
tostado
Exception: If the foreign word, espcially Spanish, has similar English equivalent, the vowel of
the first syllable may be "u" instead of "o."
bomba
boton
corriente
kortina
cruz
droga
fondo
sorpresa
sostener
sostento
sospecha

pump
bumba
button
butones
current
kuryente
curtain
kurtina
crux (also cross) krus
drug
druga
fund
pundo
surprise
surprisa
sustain
sustener
support
sustento
suspect
suspetsa

k. Letter o is retained on affixed root words:

abo
bungtod
buot
handom
hayop
igso
libot
lungsod
sangpot
sugo
tinuod
tuno

abohan
kabungtoran
kabuotan
handomanan
kahayopan
igsoon
kalibotan
kalungsoran
sangpotanan
sulugoon
matinuoron
tinunoan

5. U -- a. Letter u is used in the first syllable of the words with phonetic sound "o" or of
words with similar phonetic sound.
bituon
bungtod
dalunggan
hinuon
mug-ot
taudtaod
ugat

buang bug-at buhat

bungi buot
kuto
dugho haruhay hinunoa
lahutay lungag lungis
salumsom salagunting
tarurot
tuhoy tumong turutot
ungot upaw
yungit

b. There are some loaned words where "u" is used instead of "o."
colchon
corazonada
golpe
horma
hormiga
polvo
polvora
polvoron
postizo
romper

kutson
kursonada
gulpi
hulma
hulmigas
pulbos
pulbora
pulboron
pustiso
rumpi

c. U is used on repeated syllable.

buhat
puhonan
buhis
sulat
hukngay
tudlo
hukom
tuon

magbubuhat
magpupuhonan
magbubuhis
magsusulat
maghuhukngay
magtutudlo
maghuhukom
magtutuon

d. "U" is used in apocopes having two or more syllables without the use of an aportrophe.
bulong
kulong
dulog
dulot
gulot
hulog
pulong
sulod
sulog
sulong
tulod
tulog

bung
kung
dug
dut
gut
hug
pung
sud
sug
sung
tud
tug

6. U and O -- a. The sequence of "u" and "o" is used when the word has two separate phonetic
sound of "o".
bituon
matuod
tinuod

kaguol
puol
tuok

guod
suod
tuod

guot
suol
tuon

b. The sequence of u and o is likewise used in words with syllables of the same phonetic
sound.
bugsok
kulon
lusok

bulong
dulog
putot

butong bus-ok
gutom lugod
tukmod tusok

Exception: When the word is a noun, it need not be changed, as title of nobility, name of person,
place, or thing.
Ginoo
Looc
Sogod

Marioone Booc
Bonbon
Pook
Poog
Colon
Bontoc
Maribojoc Pollock

c. "U and o are also for rootwords used repeatedly with two syllables.
bukbok
hushos
suksok

bunbon
luklok
tuktok

dukdok
pukpok
tugtog

hulhol
sumsom
tungtong

d. U and o are likewise used in repeated rootwoods showing repeated action, names of plants,
insects, or animals, similar or imitated things, etc. Hyphen need not be used.
buot
duog
guot
hubo
hubog
humok
lukso
pugong
putol
tuyok
tulog
udto

buotbuot
duogduog
guotguot
hubohubo
huboghubog
humokhumok
luksolukso
pugongpugong
putolputol
tuyoktuyok
tulogtulog
udtoudto

N.B: Hyphen may only be used when the word becomes confusing.
ulhos

ulhosulhos

ulhos-ulhos

e. The sequence of u and o is used on repeated word having two or more syllables, but not
rootwood, which refers to a noun.

balungbalong (shanty) bukubuko (back)

bukungbukong (kneecap) dakudako (foreman)
habuhabo (drizzle)
luyuluyo (assistant)
pakupako(latisimus dorsis) palupalo(washbat)
bahugbahog (battle)
lamuklamok (brawl)

-----------------------------------------On the Making of an English-Cebuano

Visayan Dictionary
Mayor Adelino B. Sitoy

President, Akademiyang Bisaya,Cebu City

External Vice President, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Cebu Chapter
Municipality of Cordova
Cordova, Cebu 6017
Tel No. (032) 238-5096

cordovatourism@yahoo.com

Our first step was the formation on July 26, 1995 of a duly registered Visayan Academy of Arts and Letters
Foundation, Inc. (changed to AKADEMIYANG BISAYA on April 22, 2009) which is a non-stock, non-profit and nonsectoral corporation. Its primary purposes are:
(1) to preserve and develop the Visayan-Cebuano language and culture;
(2) to encourage the adherence to such language and culture by the Visayans;
(3) to work for the teaching of the Cebuano-Visayan language in the Visayan-speaking areas; and
(4) to undertake projects to achieve the foregoing objectives.
The original founders of the Akademiya:
Adelino B. Sitoy (LUDABI)
Estanislao T. Empinado (LUDABI)
Jesus F. Estao (LUDABI)
Winefredo M. L. Seco (+) (BATHALAD)
Alex A. Abellana (Puting Dagagan)
Jorge E. Alcoseba (Free Lancer)
Antonio Ml Allego (BATHALAD)
Anatolio Cardente (SUKNA)
Lamberto Ceballos (BATHALAD)
Quirino L. de Gracia (Puting Dagagan)
Cesar P. Kilaton, Jr. (Dagang Foundation)
Carlos C. Rusiana (+) (Puting Dagagan)
Lorenzo M. dela Serna (Ang Sugbuanon)
Marianita U. Mangubat (LUDABI)
Imelda J. Perez (LUDABI)
Jes B. Tirol (LUDABI)
Except for one free lancer, the original organizers came from the different organizations of Cebuano-Visayan
writers such as the Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya (LUDABI), Bathalad-ong Halad sa Dagang (BATHALAD), Puting
Dagang, Dagang Foundation, and Ang Sugbuanon. Atty. Adelino B. Sitoy, Akademiya President, was four-time
President of Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya (LUDABI).
The first Chairman of its Board of Directors was the late Atty. Jesus P. Garcia, Sr., himself a consummate lover of
the Cebuano-Visayan language, who was also the Board Chairman of SUNSTAR DAILY. To the Akademiya,
Chairman Garcia was God-given because SUNSTAR DAILY has a printing facility. Days before his demise, he kept
repeating his wish that the Akademiyas first project, the English-Cebuano Visayan dictionary, be completed and
printed. Years back, he prematurely ordered SUNSTAR DAILY to purchase a costly kind of paper (Bible class) which
unfortunately became moldy and non-usable when the dictionary was ready for printing.
Even before the Akademiyas incorporation, meetings were already held towards its formation. The first one took
place in 1994 at the City Hall of Cebu City with the blessings of Mayor Tomas R. Osmea and Vice-Mayor Alvin B.
Garcia. Twenty Visayan-Cebuano writers attended it. It was agreed that an Akademiya be organized with members
from all the Cebuano-Visayan writers organizations in the Visayas and Mindanao. The ultimate objective was to be
able to put up a comprehensive English-Visayan Cebuano dictionary. Elected President Atty. Adelino B. Sitoy was
responsible for the incorporation of the organization first known as the Visayan Academy of Arts and Letters
Foundation (Akademiyang Bisaya).
During the incorporation process, Atty. Sitoy thought of including as members of the Board such Cebuano big
names as Gov. Lito Osmea, Cebu City Congressmen Antonio Cuenco, Raul del Mar, businessman Joseph Gaisano and
Sunstar Board Chairman Jesus Garcia, Sr. for his support of the operation of the Foundation.
After the incorporation, the Akademiya started to hold weekly and monthly meetings. Writers from Cayagan de
Oro City and Iligan City went out of their way to attend the meetings in Cebu City. But later, attendance dwindled. So,
it was decided to request Atty. Cesar Kilaton, Jr. and Mr. Rogelio S. Pono to focus on the project until its completion.
Luckily, they agreed. Meantime, Atty. Sitoy had to shoulder the necessary expenses himself. In the course of the
operation, the City of Cebu also provided some financial assistance. Rep. Cuenco also allotted funds for the project.
Chairman Garcia assisted too. But the bulk of the expenses were shouldered by Atty. Sitoy.
The dictionary Editorial staff was composed of:
Atty. Adelino B. Sitoy - President and Managing Editor,

Atty. Cesar P. Kilaton, Jr. Executive Editor,

Rogelio S. Pono Associate Editor,
Gumer M. Rafanan, Alex A. Abellana,
Jesus F. Estao (+) 2000,
Estanislao T. Empinado, Imelda J. Perez and Marianita U. Mangubat Research Editors and
Ma. Chona S. Maestrado Secretary.

The Akademiya President, Adelino Sitoy, was Dean of the College of Law, University of Cebu-Banilad, Cebu
City. He was Assemblyman for Cebu province when the regular Batasang Pambansa was organized.
Addy, as he is fondly called, obtained his Bachelor of Laws Degree (Ll.B.) from the University of San
Carlos, Cebu City, in 1960 cum laude. He finished his Master of Laws Degree (Ll.M.) in the University of
Southern Philippines, Cebu City, in 1969 with a rating of Excellent in thesis writing. His examiners were
former Senate President Jovito Salonga, former Supreme Court Chief Justice (former Senate President)
Marcelo B. Fernan, and former Mayor Ronald Duterte of Cebu City. He was Press Secretary to Hon. Jose L.
Briones, Governor of Cebu, in 1961. During his student days, he was Editor of several student publications
such as, the Light of Lapu-lapu, official publication of Abellana National School, Cebu City; Sudents
Catholic Action Newsletter; The Students Courier, Cebu Daily News supplement; The Lower Case,
Journalism Class publication, University of San Carlos; The Carolinian, official publication, University of
San Carlos; and the YOL Courier [the youths political organ of Serging Osmea in Cebu).

Cesar P. Kilaton, Jr. was a professor in business law of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. This year, he
received an Outstanding Alumnus award from the University of the Visayas, Cebu City, his alma mater. A
prize-winning pen-pusher, he writes short stories, poems, articles, essays, dramas and novels. His novel
entitled Kon Maantigong Moantos Ang Kasingkasing was best seller among pocket books printed by ABC
Publications. His English poems included anthologies of the different publications outside of the Philippines.
He is a member of the International Society of Poets, U.S.A. He is one of the founders of the Dagang
Foundation, Inc., a non-stock corporation or group of writers coming from Cebu City. He is the Chairman of
its Board of Trustees since 1992 until now. He wrote the hymn titled Dagang for the Foundation including
its musical notes. Atty. Kilaton, Jr. translated the New Testament of the Bible into Binisaya headed by Mons.
Patricio Alo, Bishop of Mati, Davao in cooperation with Pauline Publications, Cebu City. One of his novels
is serialized in the Ang Lungsoranon, the official organ of the Archdiocese of Cebu. While working on the
dictionary, he wrote the Visayan-Cebuano Grammar presently adopted by Akademiyang Bisaya.

Rogelio S. Pono is a short story writer, poet and novelist. He worked before in the Department of Public
Information, now the Philippine Information Agency. He was once the President of BATHALAD. Pono was
an Editorial Assistant of Southern Outlook, Associate Editor of Bantayan sa Hari, and Editor of Tubod ug
Kahayag Newsletter, Sugid, Hiyas and Kaliwat magazines. His works were published in different magazines
and newspapers and even books like MGA KATITIKANONG ANI, WAGAS BULAWANONG ANI 88,
SUGBUANONG BALAK (1940-1988), LUBASAN, SANGGI, LUNHAWNG HANGIN, KALIRING and ABC
PUBLICATIONS (love novels). He was the 1994 Writing Grand Awardee for short story in the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the 1994 Writer of the Year in Dr. Leonardo C. Malalis Writer of the
Year-BATHALAD AWARD. His awards include the following: first prizes: 1 novel, 2 short stories, 1
article, 2 poems; second prizes: 3 short stories, 5 poems, 1 script writing, 1 short short story, 3 articles; and
third prizes: 3 essays, 1 script writing, 1 short novel, 4 short stories, 4 poems and 1 article. He wrote six
novels that were published in Bisaya magazine and 12 love novels in ABS Publications.

The dictionary consists of 1,214 pages and 66,000 words. It was formally launched by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn F.
Garcia at the Capitol Social Hall on May 7, 2009 in the presence of provincial officials and Cebus town Mayors and
other invited guests. Kilaton, Jr., in a separate paper, explains how to use the English-Visayan Cebuano dictionary.
Meanwhile, the newly recognized AKADEMIYANG BISAYA was formally launched on October 17, 2009 at
Parklane Hotel under the leadership of its new Chairman, Atty. Jesus B. Garcia, Jr. (former Secretary, Department of
Transportation and Communication, during President Fidel V. Ramos time). The Akademiyas next project: to assist
the DepEd in its implementation of Department Order No. 74 of the Secretary of Education which directs the use of
regional languages as bridges in the teaching of subjects in the preparatory schools, Grades I, II and III.