This is a list of cognates in the Bisayan (or Visayan) languages.
The Bisayan languages is one of the sub-branches of the Philippine languages of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, and is composed of over 30 languages. It is also a dialect continuum, with neighboring varieties being largely mutually intelligible, and differences accumulate over distance.
Most data for the lists is based on the Austronesian Comparative Dictionary by Robert Blust and The Bisayan Dialects of the Philippines: Subgrouping and Reconstruction by David Paul Zorc.
This lists terms from the following languages and subgroups. Dialectal terms are marked with qualifiers.
Gloss | Proto-Bisayan reconstruction | Southern Bisayan | Cebuano | Central Bisayan | Asi | Western Bisayan | |||||||||||||||
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Surigaonon | Butuanon | Tausug | Waray-Waray | Waray Sorsogon | Hiligaynon | Capiznon | Bantayanon | Porohanon | Masbatenyo | Masbate Sorsogon | Romblomanon | Aklanon | Kinaray-a | Inonhan | Ratagnon | Cuyonon | Caluyanun | ||||
1st person singular absolutive | *aku | ako | ako | aku | ako, ko | ako, ak (clitic, Northern Samar) | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako | ako |
1st person singular ergative | *(n-)akəq | ako (preposed) | ako (preposed) | kaku (preposed) | ako (preposed), nako (postposed) | aku (preposed) | ako (preposed), nako (postposed) | ||||||||||||||
*(n-)akən | akon (preposed), nakon (postposed) | akon (preposed), nakon (postposed) | akon (preposed), nakon (postposed) | akon (preposed), nakon (postposed) | akon (preposed) | sa akon (preposed) | nakon (postposed) | akon (preposed), nakon (postposed) | akën (preposed), nakën (postposed) | nakon (preposed) | akun (preposed), nakun (postposed) | akën (preposed) | akën (preposed), nakon (postposed) | ||||||||
*ku | ko | ko | ku (postposed) | ko (postposed, clitic) |
|
ko (postposed) | ko (postposed, clitic) | ko (postposed, clitic) | ko (postposed, clitic) | ko (postposed, clitic) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed, clitic) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed) | ko (postposed) | ||
1st person singular oblique | *sa akəq, *(kan-)akəq, *(d-)akəq, *(k-)akəq | kanako, dako (Siargao) | kanako | kaku | kanako, nako (clitic), sa aho (Bohol) |
|
sa ako | sa ako | |||||||||||||
*(n-)akən, *sa akən, *(kan-)akən, *(d-)akən, *(k-)akən |
|
sa akon | sa akon | sa akon | dakon | sa akon | sa akon | akon | kakon, kang (clitic) | kanakën | akon | kanakun | kanakën | kanakën | |||||||
1st person plural exclusive absolutive | *kami | kami | kami | kami | kami, mi | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami | kami |
1st person plural exclusive ergative | *(n-)aməq | amo (preposed), namo | amo (preposed), namo | kamu (preposed), namu | amo (preposed), namo (postposed) | amo (preposed) | amo (preposed), namo (postposed) | ||||||||||||||
*(n-)amən | amon (preposed), namon (postposed) | amon (preposed), namon (postposed) | amon (preposed), namon (postposed) | amon (preposed), namon (postposed) | amon (preposed) | sa amon (preposed) | namon (postposed). No preposed equivalent | amon (preposed), namon (postposed) | amën (preposed), namën (postposed) | namon (postposed). No preposed form. | amun (preposed), mun (postposed) | amën (preposed), mën (postposed) | amën (preposed). namën (postposed) | ||||||||
*kami | mi (postposed) | mi (postposed) | |||||||||||||||||||
1st person singular oblique | *sa aməq, *(kan-)aməq, *(d-)aməq, *(k-)aməq | kanamo, damo (Siargao) | kanamo | kamu | kanamo, namo (clitic), sa amo (Bohol) |
|
sa amo | sa amo | |||||||||||||
*(n-)amən, *sa amən, *(kan-)amən, *(d-)amən, *(k-)amən |
|
sa amon | sa amon | sa amon | damon | sa amon | saamon | amon | kamon | kanamën | amon | kanamun | kanamën | kanamën | |||||||
1st person plural inclusive absolutive | *kita | kita | kita | kitaniyu | kita, ta | kita, ta (clitic), kit (clitic, Northern Samar) | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita, ta | kita | kita | kita | kita | kita |
1st person plural inclusive ergative | *(n-)atəq | ato (preposed), nato (postposed) | ato (preposed), ato | katuniyu (preposed), natuniyu | ato (preposed), nato (postposed) | ato (preposed) | ato (preposed), nato (postposed) | ||||||||||||||
*(n-)atən | aton (preposed), naton (postposed) | aton (preposed), naton (postposed) | aton (preposed), naton (postposed) | aton (preposed), naton (postposed) | aton (preposed) | sa aton (preposed) | naton (postposed). No preposed equivalent | aton (preposed), naton (postposed) | atën (preposed), natën (postposed) | naton (postposed). | atun (preposed). No postposed form. | atën (preposed) | atën (preposed). natën (postposed) | ||||||||
*kita | ta (postposed, clitic) | ta (postposed, clitic) | ta (postposed). No preposed form. | ta (postposed, clitic) | ta (postposed) | ta (postposed, clitic) | ta (postposed, clitic) | ta (postposed) | ta (postposed) | ||||||||||||
1st person singular oblique | *sa atəq, *(kan-)atəq, *(d-)atəq, *(k-)atəq | kanato, dato (Siargao) | kanato | katuniyu | kanato, nato (clitic), sa ato (Bohol) |
|
sa ato | sa ato | |||||||||||||
*(n-)atən, *sa atən, *(kan-)atən, *(d-)atən, *(k-)atən |
|
sa aton | sa aton | sa aton | daton | sa aton | sa aton | aton | katon | kanatën | sa aton | kanatun | kanatën | kanatën | |||||||
1st person plural dual absolutive | *kita | kita | |||||||||||||||||||
1st person plural dual ergative | *(k-)atuq | katu (preposed), natu (postposed) | |||||||||||||||||||
*kita | ta | ||||||||||||||||||||
1st person plural dual oblique | *katu | katu | |||||||||||||||||||
2nd person singular absolutive | *ikaw | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, ka | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, kaw | ikaw, kaw |
2nd person singular ergative | *(n-)imu | imo (preposed) | imo (preposed) | kaymu (preposed), mu (postposed) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | mu (postposed). No preposed equivalent | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | saimo (preposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic). No preposed equivalent. | nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic). No preposed equivalent. | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic). No preposed equivalent | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | imo (preposed), nimo (postposed), mo (postposed, clitic) | |
2nd person singular oblique | *sa imu, *(kan-)imu, *(d-)imu, *(k-)imu | kanimo, dimo (Siargao) | kanimo | kaymu | kanimo, nimo (clitic), sa imo (Bohol) | imu | sa imo | sa imo | sa imo | dimo | sa imo | saimo | imo | imo | kimo, king (clitic) | kanimo | imo | kanimo | kanimo | kanimo | |
2nd person plural absolutive | *kamu | kamo, jo (Siargao) | kamo | kamu | ikaw, mo | kamu, kam | kamu | kamo, mo | kamo, mo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo | kamo |
2nd person plural ergative | *(n-)inyu | inyo (preposed), ninyo (postposed) | inyo (preposed), ninyo (postposed) | inyo (preposed), ninyo (postposed) | inzo (preposed), ninzo (postposed) | nindo (postposed). No preposed equivalent. | ninro (postposed). No preposed equivalent. | inyo (preposed), ninyo (postposed), niyo (postposed, clitic) | inyo (preposed), ninyo (postposed), niyo (postposed, clitic) | ninyo (postposed). No preposed equivalent | inyo (preposed), ninyo (postposed) | indo (preposed), nindo (postposed) | indo (preposed), nindo (postposed) | ||||||||
*(n-)indu | |||||||||||||||||||||
*(n-)iyu | ijo (preposed), nijo (postposed) | iyo (preposed), niyo | kanyu (preposed), niyu (postposed) | iyo (preposed), niyo (postposed) | sa iyu (preposed), niyu (postposed). | iyo (preposed), niyo (postposed) | iyo (preposed), niyo (postposed) | saiyo (preposed), niyo (postposed) | |||||||||||||
2nd person plural oblique | *sa inyu, *(kan-)inyu, *(d-)inyu, *(k-)inyu | kanyu | kaninyo, ninyo (clitic), sa inyo (Bohol) | sa inyo | sa inyo | dinzo | indo | inro | kinyo | kaninyo | inyo | kaninyo | kanindo | kanindo | |||||||
*(kan-)indu | |||||||||||||||||||||
*sa iyu, *(kan-)iyu, *(d-)iyu, *(k-)iyu | kanijo, dijo (Siargao) | kaniyo |
ha iyo |
iyu | sa iyo | sa iyo | saiyo | ||||||||||||||
3rd person singular absolutive | *siya | sija | siya | siya, sya | siya, sija (Bohol) | hiya, | siya | siya | siya | siya | siza | siya | siya, | siya | sida | ||||||
imaw | imaw | ||||||||||||||||||||
*tana | -t-ana (clitic) | tana | tana | tana | tana | ||||||||||||||||
3rd person singular ergative | *iya, (n-)iya, (kan-)iya | ija (preposed), nija (postposed) | niya (preposed) | kaniya (preposed), niya (postposed), -nya (postposed, enclitic) | iya (preposed), niya (postposed) | kanya (preposed), niya (postposed). | iya (preposed), niya (postposed) | iya (preposed), niya (postposed) | iya (preposed), niya (postposed) | iza (preposed), niza (postposed) | iya (preposed), niya (postposed) | saiya (preposed), niya (postposed) | niya (postposed). No proposed equivalent. | nida (postposed). No preposed equivalent. | |||||||
*ana | ana (preposed), nana (postposed), na (postposed, clitic) | tana (preposed), nana (postposed), na (postposed, clitic) | nana | ana (postposed), na (postposed, clitic) | ana (postposed), na (postposed, clitic) | ana (postposed), nana (postposed) | |||||||||||||||
3rd person singular oblique | *sa iya, (n-)iya, (kan-)iya | kanija, dija (Siargao) | kaniya | kaniya | kaniya, niya (clipped), sa ija (Bohol) | sa kanya (preposed), | sa iya | sa iya | sa iya | diza | sa iya | saiya | sa iya | sa nida | |||||||
*(kan-)ana, *(ka-)ana, *sa ana | kana, kaa (clitic) | kanana, kana | sa ana | kanana | kanana | kanana |
English translation | Proto-Bisayan reconstruction | Southern Bisayan | Cebuano | Central Bisayan | Asi | Western Bisayan | |||||||||||||||
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Surigaonon | Butuanon | Tausug | Waray-Waray | Waray Sorsogon | Hiligaynon | Capiznon | Bantayanon | Porohanon | Masbatenyo | Masbate Sorsogon | Romblomanon | Aklanon | Kinaray-a | Inonhan | Ratagnon | Cuyonon | Caluyanun | ||||
blood | *dugúq | dugo | dugo | dugu | dugo | dugo | dugu | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | rugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo | dugo |
body | *láwas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | yawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas | lawas |
body hair | *badahibo | barhibo (Siargao) | bāhibu | balhibo | barahibo | balahibo | barahibo | baeahibo | |||||||||||||
bone | *bəkəg | bukog (Siargao, Tandag) | bukug | bukog | bukog (“fish spine”) | bukog (“fish spine”) | |||||||||||||||
heart | *kasiŋkasiŋ | kasingkasing | kasingkasing | kasingkasing | kasingkasing | kasingkasing | kasingkasing |
English translation | Proto-Bisayan reconstruction | Southern Bisayan | Cebuano | Central Bisayan | Asi | Western Bisayan | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surigaonon | Butuanon | Tausug | Waray-Waray | Waray Sorsogon | Hiligaynon | Capiznon | Bantayanon | Porohanon | Masbatenyo | Masbate Sorsogon | Romblomanon | Aklanon | Kinaray-a | Inonhan | Ratagnon | Cuyonon | Caluyanun | ||||
to run | *dalagan | dayagan, dyagan (Siargao) | dāgan | dalagan, dagan (Urban Cebuano, Bohol) | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dayagan | rayagan | daeagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan | dalagan |
English translation | Proto-Bisayan reconstruction | Southern Bisayan | Cebuano | Central Bisayan | Asi | Western Bisayan | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surigaonon | Butuanon | Tausug | Waray-Waray | Waray Sorsogon | Hiligaynon | Capiznon | Bantayanon | Porohanon | Masbatenyo | Masbate Sorsogon | Romblomanon | Aklanon | Kinaray-a | Inonhan | Ratagnon | Cuyonon | Caluyanun | ||||
soul | *kálag | kalag | kaag | kalag, kag (Bohol) | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kaeag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag | kalag |
English translation | Proto-Bisayan reconstruction | Southern Bisayan | Cebuano | Central Bisayan | Asi | Western Bisayan | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surigaonon | Butuanon | Tausug | Waray-Waray | Waray Sorsogon | Hiligaynon | Capiznon | Bantayanon | Porohanon | Masbatenyo | Masbate Sorsogon | Romblomanon | Aklanon | Kinaray-a | Inonhan | Ratagnon | Cuyonon | Caluyanun | ||||
to give | *hatag | hatag | hatag | hatag | hatag | hatag | hatag | hatág | |||||||||||||
*taqu | tao | tao | tao | tao | tao | tawo | taw | tao | |||||||||||||
do not | *ayaw | ajaw, ayaw (Tandag) | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw, ajaw (Bohol, Southern Leyte) | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | azaw ~ izaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw | ayaw |
Following are the reflexes of Proto-Bisayan sounds on the present languages according to Zorc: