Masbateño language

Masbateño is a Visayan language spoken by more than 600,000 people, primarily in the province of Masbate in the Philippines. It is close to Capiznon and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), both spoken on Panay. It can be considered a Bisakol language, meaning a language intermediate between Visayan languages and Bicolano languages.

Sounds

Masbateño has sixteen consonants: p, t, k, b, d, g, m, n, ng, s, h, w, l, r and y. There are three vowels: i, a, and u/o. The vowels u and o are allophones, with u always being used when it is the beginning and sometimes end of a syllable, and o always used when it ends a syllable. This is one of the Philippine languages which is excluded from [ɾ]-[d] allophone.

Examples

Who are you? - Sin-o Ka?

What is your name? - Nano an pangaran mo?

When is your Birthday - San-o ka nabuhay?

Where do you live? - Diin ka naga-istar?

Cat - Miya

Dog - Ido

Cow - Baka

Pig - Orig (piglet) Anay (mother pig)

Rat - Iraga

I hate you - Urit ako sa imo

I love you - Namomo-ot ako sa imo (bicol)

I love you - Palangga ta ikaw (Masbate Main Land)

Ant - Sirum (Masbate Ticao Island)

Ant - Hurmigas (Masbate Main Land)

Delicious - Masiram (Masbate)

Difficult - Malisud

Annoying - Kabaradli!!!

Come here - Apiki didi

Ugly - Maraot

Beautiful - Katahom or Kaayo

Smoke - aso

Cloud - damog

Brave - maisog

Coconut fruit - botong

External links

• Ethnologue Report for Masbateño