8 Bisayan Words
that Mean Totally Different Things
in Tagalog
By Pi Palaganas-Orillosa

Say what now?! You may think you’re already in a different dimension when you hear Bisayan words. No, it’s not the accent or tone or how fast they talk–it’s their words translated in Tagalog that’ll make you crazy. Let us set examples:

Tagalog meaning: Ant
Bisaya meaning: Bird (yes, bird)

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Ang daming langgam sa lamesa!
(There are plenty of ants on the table!)

Bisaya:
Daghan langgam nga nagpahulay sa atop.
(There are plenty of birds resting on the roof.)

Tagalog meaning: jerk (using force), crank (as to start a motorcycle)
Bisaya meaning: quick, fast

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Kadyut[in] mo ang motorsiklo.
(Jerk the motorcycle.)

Bisaya:
Kadyot ra kaayo ko.
(I’ll be fast.)

Tagalog meaning: libido, lust, pervert
Bisaya meaning: confused

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Si Juan ay malibog.
(Juan is a pervert.)

Bisaya:
Nag libog ko sa giingon sa driver sa akoa.
(What the driver said confused me.)

Tagalog meaning: exchange
Bisaya meaning: buy, purchase

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Palit kayong dalawa ng lugar.
(You two exchange places.)

Bisaya:
Palit ta ug kape adto sa Starbucks.
(Let’s buy coffee at Starbucks.)

Tagalog meaning: genetic trait
Bisaya meaning: different

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Nasa lahi namin yan!
(It’s in our genes!)

Bisaya:
Lahi man gyud ka.
(You are different.)

Tagalog meaning: foot
Bisaya meaning: thigh

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Malaki ang paa ko.
(I have big feet.)

Bisaya:
Dagko kaayo sya og mga paa.
(She has big thighs.)

Tagalong meaning: shape, curvature, figure
Bisaya meaning: drunk

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Iba ang hubog nitong bote.
(This bottle’s shape is different.)

Bisaya:
Hubog na kaayo ko.
(I’m so drunk.)

Tagalog meaning: greeting, make peace
Bisaya meaning: ugly, doesn’t look good

Use it in a sentence:

Tagalog:
Bati na tayo.
(Let’s make peace.)

Bisaya:
Bati kaayo kag nawong!
(You have an ugly face!)

After learning these words, you hopefully won’t be as shocked to hear ‘Kadyot lang! Nag libog ko kung asa nako gibutang!’ when you find yourself in the Visayan region.

Know any other Bisayan words that mean different things in Tagalog? Share them in the Comments Section!