Tagalog → Bisaya · Family

Tagalog “Ate” in Bisaya: Manang

The Tagalog word “ate” translates to Manang in Bisaya (Cebuano), pronounced mah-NAHNG. In English, it means “Older sister / older female.” 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

Manang

mah-NAHNG

English meaning
Older sister / older female
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce Manang

Say it as mah-NAHNG. 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.

Usage note

The Cebuano counterpart to Tagalog 'Ate.' Used both for older sisters and as a respectful address for any older woman.

Frequently asked questions

What is "ate" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya translation of the Tagalog word "ate" is Manang, pronounced mah-NAHNG. In English, it means "Older sister / older female."
How do you pronounce "Manang"?
Pronounce it as mah-NAHNG. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Manang" mean in English?
"Manang" means "Older sister / older female" in English. It functions as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation.
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

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

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