Waray language

Waray-Waray
Waray-Waray
Winaray
Native to	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Native speakers	3.1 million; 5th most spoken native language in the Philippines
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Central Philippine Visayan Central Visayan Waray-Waray; ; ; ; ; ;
Writing system	Latin (Filipino variant);; Historically written in Baybayin
Official status
Official language in	Regional language in the Philippines
Regulated by	Commission on the Filipino Language
Language codes
ISO 639-2	war
ISO 639-3	war

Wáray-Wáray or Warai (commonly spelled as Waray; also Winaray or Lineyte-Samarnon) is a language spoken in the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and Biliran in the Philippines.

The Waraynon group of languages consists of Waray, Waray Sorsogon, and Masbate Sorsogon. All the Warayan languages belong to the Visayan language family and are related to Cebuano and more closely to Hiligaynon and Masbateño.

Usage

Waray-Waray is one of the ten officially recognized regional languages in the Philippines and is used by the local government. It is spoken throughout the islands, especially in the Eastern Visayas region. But it is also spoken in some parts of Mindanao, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Metro Manila where Warays went to. There is also a very small number of Filipinos abroad, especially in the United States, that speak this language.

Sounds

The Waray language has sixteen consonants: /p, t, k, b, d, ɡ, m, n, ŋ, s, h, w, l, ɾ, j/. There are three main vowels: a [a], i [ɛ ~ i], and u [o ~ ʊ]. Consonants /d/ and /ɾ/ were once allophone but cannot interchange, like palaron (to be lucky) [from palad, palm (because someone's luck is seen in the palm)] but not paladon and tagadiín (from where) [from diín, where] but not tagariín.

Numbers

Native numbers are used for numbers one through ten. From eleven onwards, Spanish numbers are exclusively used in Waray today, their native counterparts being almost unheard of by the majority of native speakers numbers (except for gatus for hundred and yukot for thousand). Some, specially the old ones, are spoken alongside the Spanish counterparts.

English	Native Waray	Borrowed from Spanish
One	Usá	Uno
Two	Duhá	Dos
Three	Tuló	Tres
Four	Upat	Kuwatro
Five	Limá	Singko
Six	Unom	Seiz/says
Seven	Pitó	Siete/syete
Eight	Waló	Ocho/otso
Nine	Siyám	Nuebe/nueve
Ten	Napúlô	Diez
Eleven	Napúlô kag usá	Onse
Twenty	Karuhaan	Baynte
Thirty	Katloan	Trenta
Forty	Kap-atan	Kuwarenta
Fifty	Kalim-an	Singkwenta
Sixty	Kaunman	Sisenta
Seventy	Kapitoan	Sitenta
Eighty	Kawaloan	Ochienta
Ninety	Kasiaman	Nobenta
One Hundred	Usa ka Gatus	Cien
One Thousand	Usa ka Yukot	Mil
One Million	Usa ka milyon	milyon

Some common words and phrases

Below are examples of the Waray spoken in Metropolitan Tacloban and the nearby areas:

Can you understand Waray?: ¿Nakakaintindi / Nasabut ka hin Winaray? (hin or hiton)
Good morning (noon / afternoon / evening): Maupay nga aga (udto / kulop / gab-i)
Thank you: Salamat
I love you: Hinihigugma ko ikaw or Ginhihigugma ko ikaw or Pina-ura ta ikaw
Where are you from? : ¿Taga diin ka? or ¿Taga nga-in ka?
What is your name? : ¿Ano it imo ngaran?
Who are you?: ¿Hin-o ka?
How are you? : ¿Kumusta ka na?
I'm fine / In God's will: Kalu-oy sa Dyos
How much is this? : ¿Tag pira ini?
I like this / that: Karuyag ko ini / itun
I can't understand: Diri ako nakakaintindi or Diri ako nakakasabut
I don't know: Diri ako maaram or Ambot
What: Ano
Who: Hin-o
Where: Hain or Di-in
When (future): San-o
When (past): Kakan-o
Why: Kay-ano
How: ¿Gin-aano?/¿Patiunan-o?
Yes: Oo
No: Dire / Diri
There: Adto or Didto or Ngad-to
Here: Didi or Nganhi or Din-hi
Up: Igbaw
Down: Ubos
Top: Baw-baw
Bottom: Ilarom or Sirong
Right: Tu-o
Left: Wala
Far: Harayu / Harayo
Near: Hirane / Hirani
Front or in front: Atubang or Atubangan
Night: Gab-i
Day: Adlaw
Nothing: Waray
Good: Maupay
Beautiful: Mahusay
Handsome: Gwapo
Boy: Lalaki
Girl: Babayi
Gay: Bayot
Lesbian: Lesbyana
I'm a friend of...: Sangkay ak ni...
I'm lost here: Nawawara ak didi.
Maybe: Bangin
I wish...: Kunta

Other common words

Technical terms

Gold - Bulawan
Steel - Puthaw
Car - Awto / Sarakyan / Kotchi / Sasakyan
Airplane - Edro / Eroplano
Airport - Lupadan / Landingan

Astronomical terms

Earth - Kalibutan
Moon - Bulan; Indonesian - Bulan
Sun - Adlaw
Star - Bituon Indonesian - bintang

Natural terms

Wind - Hangin; Indonesian - Angin
Fire - Kalayo
Land - Tuna; Indonesian - Tanah
Water - Lawod / Tubig
Nature - Libong
Mountain - Bukid; Indonesian - Bukit
Sea - Dagat
Ocean - Kalawdan Indonesian - Laut i.e. ka-laut-an
Island - Puro / Isla Indonesian - Pulau
Archipelago - Kapuruan; Indonesian - Kepulauan
River - Salog
Lake - Danaw; Indonesian - Danau

Parts of the house

House - Balay or Payag
Room - Kwarto or Sulod
Bedroom - Sulod-Katurugan
Kitchen - Kusina
Outdoor Kitchen - Abuhan
Living Room - Sala
Dining Room - Kaunan
Bathroom - Kubeta / Kasilyas / Karigu-an / Banyo
Stairs - Hagdan / Hagdanan
Garage - Garahe / Garahi
Roof - Atup / Atop

Members of the Family

Father - Amay / Tatay / Papa
Mother - Iroy / Nanay / Mama
Child - Anak
Son - Anak nga Lalaki
Daughter - Anak nga Babayi
Sibling - Bugto
Brother - Bugto nga lalaki
Sister - Bugto nga Babayi
Grandparent - Apoy
Grandfather - Lolo
Grandmother - Lola
Cousin - Patod
Nephew/Niece - Umangkon
Son-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law - Umagad
Brother-in-Law - Bayaw
Sister-in-Law - Hipag
Father-in-Law/Mother-in-Law - Ugangan
Oldest Child - Suhag
Youngest Child - Puto or Pudo

Fashion words

Hat - Kalo
Pants - Saruwal
Clothes - Bado / Duros
Belt - Paha
Socks - Medyas
Shoes - Sapatos

Food

Bread - Tinapay
Rice (cooked) - Kan-on / Luto
Rice (unhusked and raw) - Bugas
Rice (still in husk) - Humay
Rice (charred) - Tukag
Viand - Sura
Coffee - Kape
Sugar - Asukar
Salt - Asin
Soy Sauce - Toyo
Vinegar - Suoy / Suka

Animals

Dog - Ayam / Iru / Ido
Cat - Uding / Misay
Rat - Yatot / Yatut
Crocodile - Buaya
Bird - Tamsi
Snake - Halas
Cow - Baka
Pig - Baboy
Goat - Kanding
Carabao - Karabaw
Fish - Isda
Crab - Masag
Shrimp - Pasayan
Lobster - Tapusok

Waray-Waray loanwords and cognates

Common Waray Waray words and its foreign and local origin

Indonesian/Malay Cognates

Mulay (English: to play)- from Indonesian mulai
Balay (English: house) - from Indonesian balai
Sarapati (English: pigeon) - from Indonesian merpati
Kapuruan (English: archipelago) - from Indonesian/Malay kepulauan
Posporo (English: match) - from Indonesian/Malay posporo
Mata (English: eyes) - from Indonesian/Malay mata
Bulan (English: moon/month) - from Indonesian/Malay bulan
Ini (English: this/these) - from Indonesian/Malay ini
Kamo (English: you [plural]) - from Indonesian/Malay kamu

Spanish

Abandonada (Spanish: Abandonado/a) – abandoned
Abaniko (Spanish: Abanico) – fan
Abriha (Spanish: Abrir, Filipino: Abrihin) – to open
- Abrelata (Spanish: Abrelatas) – tin-opener/can opener
Abril (Spanish: Abril) – April
Abogado (Spanish: Abogado) – lawyer, attorney
Aborido (Spanish: Aburrido) – bored (used in Tagalog as 'anxious, confused')
Akasya (Spanish: Acacia) – acacia tree
Aksidente (Spanish: Accidente) – accident
Adurnuha (Spanish: Adornar, Filipino: Adurnuhan) – to decorate
Agrabiyado (Spanish: Agraviado) – being aggrieved
Aginaldo (Spanish: Aguinaldo) – Christmas gift
Agosto (Spanish: Agosto) – August
Ahensiya (Spanish: Agencia) – agency
Ahente (Spanish: Agente) – agent
Alahas (Spanish: Alhaja) – jewel
Alambre (Spanish: Alambre) – wire
Alkansiya (Spanish: Alcancía) – piggy bank
Alpilir (Spanish: Alfiler) – pin
Alsaha (Spanish: Alzar, Filipino: Alsahin) – Ambisyoso (Spanish: Ambicioso) – ambitious
Ambisyon (Spanish: Ambición) – ambitionArbularyo (Spanish: Herbolario) - Medicine man (from "Herbo" -herb)
Arina (Spanish: Harina) – flour
Arkitekto (Spanish: Arquitecto) – architect
Armado (Spanish: Armado) – armed
Armibal (Spanish: Almíbar) – syrup
Artista (Spanish: Artista) – artist (used in Waray Waray as 'actor/actress')
Ariyos (Spanish: Arreos) – tack (used in Waray Waray as 'earrings')
Asintado (Spanish: Asentado) – settled
Asero (Spanish: Acero) – steel
Asno (Spanish: Asno) – donkey
Asoge (Spanish: Azogue) – mercury
Asosasyon (Spanish: Asociación) – association
Asukar (Spanish: Azúcar) – sugar
Asul (Spanish: Azul) – blue
Asyatiko (Spanish: Asiatico) – Asian
Intyendeha (Spanish: Atender) – to attend to
Atrasado (Spanish: Atrasado) – overdue, slow (clock), backward (used in Waray Waray as 'late')
Ayudaha (Spanish: Ayudar, Filipino: Ayudahan) – to help
Banyo/Kasilyas (Spanish: Baño) – bathroom, toilet
Baraha (Spanish: Baraja) – deck of playing cards
Baratilyo (Spanish: Baratillo) – flea market (used in Waray Waray as 'bargain sale')
Barato (Spanish: Barato) – cheap
Barbero (Spanish: Barbero) – barber
Barbula (Spanish: Válvula) – valve
Bareta (Spanish Bareta) – bar
Bagahe (Spanish: Bagaje) – baggage
Baho (Spanish : Vaho) – steam (used in Waray Waray as 'foul smell')
Bintana (Spanish: Ventana) – window
Bintilador (Spanish: Ventilador) – electric fan
Birhen (Spanish: Virgen) – virgin
Bisagra (Spanish: Bisagra) – hinge
Bisikleta (Spanish: Bicicleta) – bicycle
Bisitaha (Spanish: Visitar) – to visit
Botika/Botica/Parmasya/Farmacia - drugstore, pharmacy
Conbensido (Spanish: Convencido) - convinced
Demanda (Spanish: Demanda) – demand
Demokrasiya (Spanish: Democracia) – democracy
Demonyo (Spanish:Demonio) – demon, evil spirit
Huygo (Spanish:Juego)- game (used in Waray Waray as 'gambling'
Hugador (Spanish:Jugador)- game (used in Waray Waray as 'gambler'
Dentista (Spanish: Dentista) – dentist
Departamento (Spanish: Departamento) – department, bureau
Depensa (Spanish: Defensa) – defense
Deposito (Spanish: Depósito) – depot (fuel), deposit (money)
Desisyon (Spanish: Decisión) – decision

Diyos/a (Spanish: Dios/a) – god/goddess
Doble (Spanish: Doble) – double
Doktor/a (Spanish: Doctor/a) – doctor
Don (Spanish: Don) – Mr. (used in Waray Waray to address a rich man)
Donya (Spanish: Doña) – Mrs. (used in Waray Waray to address a rich woman)
Dos (Spanish: Dos) – two
Dose (Spanish: Doce) – twelve
Dosena (Spanish: Docena) – dozen
Drama (Spanish: Drama) – drama
Droga (Spanish: Droga) – drugs
Karsonsilyo/Carsoncillo (Spanish: Carsoncillo) – boxer shorts (used in Waray Waray as 'shorts')
Marigoso (Spanish: Amargoso) - bittermelon
Padre (Spanish: Padre) - father (used in Waray Waray as a title for a Roman Catholic priest)

Portuguese

Porta (Portuguese: Porta) - door
Multo (Portuguese: Morto) - ghost

Nahuatl

Achuete (Nahuatl: Achiotl; Mexican Spanish: Achiote) – annatto seeds used to give food a reddish color
Kakao/Kakaw (Cacao) (Nahuatl: Cacahuatl) – cacao or cocoa
Sayote (Nahuatl: Chayotli; Mexican Spanish: Chayote) – a Mexican squash
Tiyangge (Nahuatl: Tianquiztli; Mexican Spanish: Tianguis) – seasonal markets
Tsokolate (Nahuatl: Xocolatl) – chocolate