Tagalog → Bisaya · Question Words

Tagalog “Ano” in Bisaya: Unsa

The Tagalog word “ano” translates to Unsa in Bisaya (Cebuano), pronounced OON-sah. In English, it means “What.” Bisaya is spoken by over 22 million people across the Visayas and Mindanao — the second most widely spoken language in the Philippines after Tagalog.

Bisaya translation

Unsa

OON-sah

English meaning
What
Part of speech
question

How to pronounce Unsa

Say it as OON-sah. Capitalized syllables in the pronunciation guide indicate stress — the part of the word you emphasize when speaking. Bisaya stress is meaningful: putting it on the wrong syllable can change the meaning of a word, so it's worth practicing out loud.

Example sentences

  • Unsa kini?

    “What is this?”

Usage note

One of the first words a Tagalog speaker has to relearn when moving to Bisaya territory.

Frequently asked questions

What is "ano" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya translation of the Tagalog word "ano" is Unsa, pronounced OON-sah. In English, it means "What."
How do you pronounce "Unsa"?
Pronounce it as OON-sah. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Unsa" mean in English?
"Unsa" means "What" in English. It functions as a question in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Unsa" in a sentence?
Example: "Unsa kini?" — What is this?
Is Bisaya the same as Cebuano?
Yes — Bisaya and Cebuano are two names for the same language. Cebuano is the more formal linguistic name, while Bisaya is the everyday name used by speakers themselves. Both refer to the language spoken by 22+ million Filipinos. Read more in our Bisaya vs Binisaya guide.

Continue learning Bisaya

More than just translations.

Browse the full Bisaya dictionary, compare words across all five Visayan languages, or jump into our beginner's guide.

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