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Waray language

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waray-Waray
Winaray
Native to Philippines
RegionEastern Visayas
Native speakers
3.1 million; 5th most spoken native language in the Philippines[1]
Latin (Filipino variant);
Historically written in Baybayin
Official status
Official language in
Regional language in the Philippines
Regulated byCommission on the Filipino Language
Language codes
ISO 639-2war
ISO 639-3war

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Technical terms

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

Astronomical terms

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

Natural terms

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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

Food

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  • 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

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  • 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

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Common Waray Waray words and its foreign and local origin

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Indonesian/Malay Cognates
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • Porta (Portuguese: Porta) - door
  • Multo (Portuguese: Morto) - ghost
Nahuatl
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  • 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
Chinese
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  • Bakya (Fukien Chinese) – native wooden sandals
  • Bihon – Vermicelli (made of rice flour)
  • Bitsin (Fukien Chinese: Bi chhin) – monosodium glutamate
  • Jueteng (Fukien Chinese) – illegal numbers game
  • Lumpia (Fukien Chinese) – spring rolls
English
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  • Basket – basket
  • Basketbol – basketball
  • Basketbulan - basketball court
  • Bilib - believe
  • Bilyar - billiard
  • Bilyaran - billiard hall
  • Chiki - check
  • Dyeepnee – jeep
  • Elementari – elementary
  • Ekonomiks - economics
  • Eksport – export
  • Ekpres - express
  • Erkon - air con
  • Greyd – grade
  • Groseri – grocery
  • Hai Skul – High School
  • Iskor – score
  • Iskrin – screen
  • Ispiker - speaker
  • Keyk – cake
  • Kostomer/Kustomer – customer
  • Kompyuter – computer
  • Kondisyoner - conditioner
  • Kontrol - control
  • Krim - cream
  • Kukis - cookies
  • Lider – leader
  • Losyon - lotion
  • Manedyer – manager
  • Masel – muscle
  • Makroekonomiks - macroeconomics
  • Maikroekonomiks - microeconomics
  • Isparkol - sparkle
Cebuano
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  • Bana (Cebuano: Bana) - husband

Trivia

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  • Waray is the only language in the Philippines that uses the inverted question mark (¿...?) and the inverted exclamation point (¡...!).
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References

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  1. ↑ Philippine Census, 2000. Table 11. Household Population by Ethnicity, Sex and Region: 2000

Other websites

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Waray edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikivoyage has a travel guide about: Waray phrasebook
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