Learning different dialects is fun, particularly when familiar words take on different meanings in different places. Tagalog is spoken by ethnic people in Luzon, while Cebuano is spoken by native people in Cebu. The two dialects share some common words and spelling, but differ in meaning.
BAGA
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Lungs
Thick
May sakit siya sa baga. (He has a lung disease.)
Kabaga sa iyang buhok. (She has thick hair.)
KAMAY
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Hand
Sugar
Itaas ang kamay. (Raise your hand.)
Palit didto og kamay. (Buy some sugar.)
PITO
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Seven
Whistle
May pitong bata sa bahay. (There are 7 children in the house.)
Nakadungog sila sa pito. (They heard the whistle.)
LATA
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Tin Can
Over Ripe
Itapon mo ang lata. (Throw the can away.)
Lata naman ning saging. (This banana is over ripe.)
BITAW
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
To Let Go
Similar to the expression of “really”
Pag ayaw mo, bitaw na. (If you don’t like it, let it go.)
Tuod bitaw ni. (This is really true.)
BUHAT
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
To Carry
Work / Action
Ang hirap magbuhat. (It’s hard to carry loads.)
Buhat sad mo, oy. (Do your work as well.)
LANGGAM
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Ant
Bird
Kinagat ako ng langgam. (I was bitten by ants.)
Basin naay patay ng langgam. (Maybe there is a dead bird.)
KAMOT
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Scratch
Hand
Paki kamot ng likod ko? (Can you please scratch my back?)
Kapoy man akong kamot. (My hands are tired.)
ILAGA
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
To Boil
Mouse
Ilaga mo naman ang itlog. (Boil the eggs.)
Nakakita ko og ilaga. (I have seen a mouse.)
SAHOD
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Salary
To Fetch Water
May sahod na ako. (I now have a salary.)
Palihog ko og sahod sa tubig. (Please fetch some water.)
PUSO
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
Heart
Hanging Rice
Dito sa puso ko. (Here in my heart.)
Mangaon ta og puso. (Let’s eat puso.)
BATI
TAGALOG
CEBUANO
To Make Peace
Ugly
Bati na tayo. (Let’s make peace.)
Bati man sige ta og ayaw. (It’s not good to argue.)
