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“Friend” in Bisaya: Higala

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “Friend” is Higala, pronounced hee-GAH-lah. It's used as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

Higala

hee-GAH-lah

English meaning
Friend
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce Higala

Say it as hee-GAH-lah. 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

  • Siya ang akong higala.

    “He/She is my friend.”

“Friend” across Visayan languages

Bisaya is part of a larger family. Here's how the same word appears in five major Visayan languages:

  • Cebuanohigala
  • Hiligaynonabyan
  • Waraysangkay
  • Kinaray-aabyan
  • Tausugbagay
Compare more words across Visayan languages

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "Friend" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "Friend" is Higala, pronounced hee-GAH-lah.
How do you pronounce "Higala"?
Pronounce it as hee-GAH-lah. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Higala" mean in English?
"Higala" means "Friend" in English. It functions as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Higala" in a sentence?
Example: "Siya ang akong higala." — He/She is my friend.
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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