The questions every Filipino asks you
When you meet someone in Cebu, you’ll probably be asked where you’re from, how old you are, and whether you have an uyab.
In the questions, ka means “you”. In the answers, ko means “I”.
01What’s your name?
Unsa imong pangalan?
What’s your name?
Ako si Peter.
I’m Peter.
Put your own name after si, the little word that goes before people’s names.
Ikaw?
And you?
Just say this one word, like in English.
02Where are you from?
Where are you from?
Taga- means “from” and asa means “where”.
Taga-Australia ko.
I’m from Australia.
Taga-Cebu City ko.
I’m from Cebu City.
Asa ka puyo?
Where do you live?
Puyo means to stay. ie where you live now.
03How old are you?
How old are you?
Literally: How many your age?
Sikreto para bibo.
It’s a secret!
What I often say first, when someone asks my age.
22 anyos na ko.
I’m 22.
Literally: 22 years already I.
Anyos (years old) comes from Spanish. So do the numbers people usually use for ages.
04What do you do?
Unsa imong trabaho?
What’s your job?
Software engineer ko.
I’m a software engineer.
No word for “am” needed: say the job, then ko (I).
Estudyante pa ko.
I’m still a student.
Pa means “still”.
Ga-trabaho ka o ga-eskwela?
Are you working, or still at school?
A good one to ask back, especially to someone younger than you.
Kay bata man kaayo imong nawong!
Because your face looks so young!
I haven't used this yet, but it's my plan to say it after the question above, if I'm speaking to someone middle-aged
05Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
Uyab means boyfriend or girlfriend.
Naa kay uyab?
Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
Naa.
Yes, I do.
Literally: There is.
Wala pa.
Not yet.
Literally: None yet.
06When they hear you speaking Bisaya
What’s the Bisaya for “spoon”?
You can ask anyone for a word without switching to English. The kids turn it into a game: see the game.
Ayaw kahibulong, nakat-on man ko gamay.
Don’t be surprised, I’ve learned a little.
OK ba akong accent?
Is my accent OK?
Lisod gyud ning Bisaya, oy!
This Bisaya is really hard, oy!
Bisaya na lang ta.
Let’s just speak Bisaya.
This is very useful... especially if a child comes up and tries English, badly... I sometimes just yell this out to a group as a surprise that I know any Bisaya at all
Salamat sa inyong tabang sa pagkat-on nako ug Bisaya!
Thank you all for helping me learn Bisaya!