Learn Cebuano (Bisaya)
Learn Cebuano fast with an app that gets you speaking in minutes. Start now. You’ll build confidence with practical lessons on essential skills you can use with family and friends or for business and travel.
Get Started
Trusted by language learners at
Make Friends in Cebuano
Many people want to learn Cebuano to connect with friends from the Philippines. But, frustratingly, language apps which fit their needs are few and far between.
uTalk is the solution. We’ll help you avoid:
- Missing out on everyday chats with your friends from the Philippines
- Piecing together YouTube tutorials that don’t reflect real life
- Losing confidence because lessons ignore common greetings, practical phrases and how native speakers talk
Learn Cebuano fast - and open the door to new experiences.
Get Started
Three Steps to Learn Cebuano Fast
No classes to schedule. No jargon. Just a clear path.
Start in minutes
Subscribe now, download the app or open the web app. Choose Cebuano (Bisaya) and select your first subject.
Get StartedPractise real phrases
Learn through short lessons with native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Reviews focus on words you get wrong so you learn faster.
Speak like a local
Try your new Cebuano in real life. Beginners and more experienced learners can now build basic and practical spoken language and start enjoying meaningful experiences.
Why uTalk is the Best Cebuano Learning App
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It’s app-based, online and ready when you are.
Speak first
Practical content for greetings, family, travel and everyday spoken Cebuano.
Authentic native speakers
Learn from locals, not computer voices. Hear the accent that’s widely spoken across the Philippines.
Beginner friendly, fun and effective
Game-like practice builds confidence. Lessons are short, focused and based on real life situations.
Speak Cebuano Today (Common Phrases and Audio)
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Gusto ko ug kape, palihug.
I’d like a coffee, please.
Kumusta.
Hello.
Oo.
Yes.
Oo, salamat.
Yes please.
Dili.
No.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Ayaw lang, salamat.
No thanks.
Palihug.
Please.
Salamat kanimo.
Thank you.
Daghan kaayong salamat.
Thank you very much.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Wala'y sapayan.
You’re welcome.
Duha ka serbesa, palihug.
Two beers, please.
bus
bus
sakyanan
car
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
taksi
taxi
tren
train
estasyon sa tren
railway station
tugpahanan
airport
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
otel
hotel
pasaporte
passport
telepono
telephone
Ekskiyus ako.
Excuse me.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Unsa na'ng orasa?
What time is it?
Balika gani 'to, palihug?
Can you repeat that please?
Palihug hinaya pa pagsulti.
Please speak more slowly.
Wala ko kasabot.
I don’t understand.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Sori.
Sorry.
Hain dapit ang kasilyas?
Where are the toilets?
Kasilyas Sa Babaye
Ladies’ Toilet
Kasilyas Sa Lalake
Gents’ Toilet
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Hain man ang baybayon?
Where is the beach?
Asa ang banko?
Where is the bank?
Pila man kini?
How much does this cost?
kredit kard
credit card
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
ATM
cash machine
Babay.
Goodbye.
paracetamol
paracetamol
mga yawe
keys
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
mapa
map
walá
left
tuo
right
usa
one
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
duha
two
tulo
three
Where is it spoken?
Philippines
Number of speakers
20,000,000
Language family
Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Philippine
Fun facts | Cebuano (Bisaya)
- In Cebuano, the word ‘kandingon’ means someone who doesn't take a bath frequently and literally translates as ‘like a goat’!
- The proverb 'walay aso nga makomkom' means nothing can be kept secret forever and literally translates as ‘you can’t hold smoke’.
- A commonly-used local word for a mate, dude or pal is ‘bai’.
- The expression for a bragging competition - patas-anay ug ihi - literally translates as ‘longest urine reach’!
How our Cebuano lessons work
Your language learning journey should be simple. Start with basic greetings and high-frequency words. Move to practical topics like family, numbers and essential phrases. Lessons are short, fun and built for beginners. You’ll practise with native speaker audio, and be tested on what you've learned to create stronger memories. Review sessions adapt to you by testing you more on the words you get wrong.
Pick a category and the app orders the content so you get quick wins. Choose English or another language to learn Cebuano from if you prefer. You can learn online or offline. Use uTalk on mobile or desktop. Change topics any time and follow the path that suits your goals. If you have questions, check the in-app help or contact support. We’re a friendly UK-based team and we’re here to help.
Cebuano vs. Bisaya vs. Visayan
Here’s a quick breakdown of what people mean when they say Cebuano, Bisaya, or Visayan in the Philippines:
Get Started
Key points
- Cebuano is the formal name for the language spoken by over 20 million people in the Philippines, primarily in the Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao regions. It's the second most spoken language in the Philippines after Tagalog.
- Visayan is a group of Filipino languages. Cebuano is the most widely spoken member of the so-named Bisayan subgroup.
- "Bisaya" is actually a colloquial term that many native speakers use to refer to their language. It's the same language as Cebuano, just a different name. Other names include Binisaya, Sebuano, Sebwano, Sugbuanon, Sugbuhanon, and Visayan.
How Cebuano compares with other Filipino languages
- Cebuano is widely spoken in Cebu, the Central Visayas and large parts of Mindanao. Millions of people use it every day across the Philippines, so learning it helps you chat with native speakers in many regions.
- Tagalog is a different language. It’s closely related but not the same. If you learn Cebuano, you’ll be able to talk to people outside Tagalog-speaking areas and understand more of the country.
"We help make learning Cebuano easy"
"It's easy to feel stuck when you can't find learning resources for the language you want to learn. At uTalk we recorded Cebuano because it is part of people’s culture and identity in the Philippines and every language is important to us. We also recorded native Cebuano speakers so you can learn the language as it's really spoken."
Get Started
Richard Howeson
uTalk Founder
Why learners trust uTalk
We go out of our way to support minority and regional languages. Content is recorded by native speakers. The app works for English speakers and for speakers of more than 140 other languages. Check reviews to see how learners turn practice into progress.
Your Language Learning Journey In Cebuano
You’d like to connect with family, explore your roots or communicate for work or travel. Cebuano is spoken across the Philippines, especially in Cebu, the Central Visayas and Mindanao. Finding quality Cebuano lessons can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be.
Get StarteduTalk can help. Choose a subject to begin with or start with First Words like kumusta ka. Then build useful words and phrases for real life situations. You’ll listen to native speakers, record yourself copying them and compare the two. Games make it fun for beginners, but the content is practical for everyone. You can learn online or offline. You can follow a guided learning pathway or you can explore, choosing for yourself what you want to learn and when.
The outcome is simple. You’ll speak Cebuano with confidence. You’ll understand more of what people say. You’ll use your skills with friends, family and new connections. It fits your life.
Learn real-life topics in Cebuano
Explore the Austronesian language family
Cebuano (Bisaya) belongs to the Austronesian language family, a vast network stretching from Southeast Asia to the Pacific and even Madagascar. If you’re curious to compare words, sounds, or everyday phrases across the family, check out: Malay, Indonesian, Filipino (Tagalog), Ilocano, Javanese, Fijian, Samoan, Hawaiian, Māori, and Malagasy.
These languages share deep historical roots and often similar vocabulary and phonetic patterns, so cross-learning might feel familiar once you start.
Get StartedYour Cebuano questions, answered
Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?
uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.
Can I start as a beginner?
Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1-A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.
What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?
Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.
How is content selected and ordered?
Topics are based on real life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.
How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?
YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.
Where can I learn a language with uTalk?
We’re available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you’ll be directed to download uTalk for your device.
Is Cebuano the same as Bisaya or Visayan?
Cebuano is often called Bisaya. Visayan is the name of the wider language family that includes Cebuano. In the app you’ll find Cebuano listed as Cebuano (Bisaya).
Is Cebuano on Duolingo?
No, Cebuano is not available on Duolingo. But it is available on uTalk, which features 150+ languages, highlighting and preserving languages from all over the world.
How fast can I learn to speak Cebuano?
Short, regular sessions work best. Many learners can handle simple conversations after a few weeks of steady practice. Your speed depends on how often you use the app and how much you review.
Can I learn Cebuano for free with uTalk?
Getting started with uTalk is easy, and you can cancel whenever you want. We want you to love uTalk, so we even offer a 28-Day Money Back Guarantee if you’re not satisfied.
Topics
- First Words
- Transport
- Restaurant
- Food and Drink
- Cooking
- Places
- Directions
- Illness
- Doctor
- Body
- Emergencies
- Social Phrases
- Leisure
- Likes and Dislikes
- Football Match Abroad
- Football Commentary
- Sports
- Shopping Words
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Clothes
- Ingredients
- Home
- Bathroom
- Kitchen
- Tools
- Family
- Occupations
- Animals
- Animals' Bodies
- Farming
- Technology
- School
- Business
- Numbers up to Twenty
- Numbers up to Ten Million
- Essential Phrases
- Adjectives
- Prepositions
- Colours
- Countries
- Calendar
- Time
- Timetable
- Outdoors
- Holiday
- Skiing
- Camping
- Golf
- Sailing
- Driving
- Olympics
- Summer Olympics
- Winter Olympics
- Military Commands
- Military Peace Keeping
- Military Intelligence
- Accommodation
- Shopping Phrases
- Travelling
- Free Starter Words
- Disaster Relief - Volunteers
- Natural Disasters
Get by with basic greetings, words and phrases including 'hello', 'thank you' and 'I'd like a coffee please'.