Tagalog → Bisaya · Common

Tagalog “Bahay” in Bisaya: Balay

The Tagalog word “bahay” translates to Balay in Bisaya (Cebuano), pronounced BAH-lay. In English, it means “House.” 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

Balay

BAH-lay

English meaning
House
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce Balay

Say it as BAH-lay. 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

One of the clearest Tagalog/Bisaya cognate pairs — 'bahay' and 'balay' share the same Austronesian root.

Frequently asked questions

What is "bahay" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya translation of the Tagalog word "bahay" is Balay, pronounced BAH-lay. In English, it means "House."
How do you pronounce "Balay"?
Pronounce it as BAH-lay. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Balay" mean in English?
"Balay" means "House" 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

More than just translations.

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

All translationsBrowse dictionaryCompare Visayan