Cebuano→English

Translate Cebuano to English the way locals mean it.

Cebuano speakers often use particles, softened refusals, and idioms that make a literal reading sound more direct, cheerful, or cooperative than the message really is.

Going the other way? English to Cebuano

474 local dialects

AIRTranslate on iPhone choosing between Cebuano varieties

What locals actually say

Ikaw ray bahala, uy.

Fine, your call.

Ray means “only,” while bahala hands the decision or responsibility back to the other person; uy adds familiar emotional emphasis, so this often sounds resigned rather than freely agreeable.

Sus, ambot nimo uy.

Honestly, I don't know what to do with you.

Sus signals disbelief, annoyance, or exasperation, and ambot nimo means more than “I don't know about you,” often expressing frustration with someone's behavior.

Padung na ko, hulat lang.

I'm on my way, just wait.

Padung means heading toward a place, and na marks the action as already underway or imminent, so the phrase is a casual arrival update rather than simply “I am going.”

Pila man ni, beh? Pwede pa ni ma-less?

How much is this? Can you give me a discount?

The Cebuano particle “man” softens the question, while “ma-less” is casual Bisaya code-switching for getting a lower price.

Asa dapit ang sakayan paingon IT Park?

Where’s the jeepney stop for IT Park?

“Asa dapit” asks for a specific nearby location, and “paingon” signals the destination or direction of travel.

Lami kaayo ni, pero wa ko kahibaw unsa ni.

This is really good, but I have no idea what it is.

“Wa” is the clipped everyday form of “wala,” signaling casual Cebuano speech, while “kaayo” intensifies the praise.

Naa na si Mama sa balay, tawagi lang siya.

Mom’s already home, just call her.

“Naa” is Cebuano’s everyday existential word for someone being present or located somewhere, and “lang” makes the instruction gentler.

Humanon sa nako ni karon para di ko magdali ugma.

I’ll finish this today so I won’t have to rush tomorrow.

The construction “sa nako” means “I’ll do this first,” a common Cebuano way to mark immediate priority.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

How Cebuano differs

Cebuano/Bisaya as spoken around Cebu and Davao; casual register mirrors everyday Bisaya texting.

Sound like a local everywhere, not just here.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.

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Localization Notes explaining why locals say it that way