English → Bisaya · Greetings

Good night” in Bisaya: Maayong gabii

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “good night” is Maayong gabii, pronounced mah-AH-yohng gah-BEE-ee. It's used as a greeting in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

Maayong gabii

mah-AH-yohng gah-BEE-ee

English meaning
Good night
Part of speech
greeting

How to pronounce Maayong gabii

Say it as mah-AH-yohng gah-BEE-ee. 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

  • Maayong gabii, tulog na.

    Good night, time to sleep.

  • Maayong gabii, palangga.

    Good night, my love.

Usage note

Used both as an evening greeting and as a goodnight farewell before sleep. 'Gabii' means night.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "good night" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "good night" is Maayong gabii, pronounced mah-AH-yohng gah-BEE-ee.
How do you pronounce "Maayong gabii"?
Pronounce it as mah-AH-yohng gah-BEE-ee. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Maayong gabii" mean in English?
"Maayong gabii" means "Good night" in English. It functions as a greeting in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Maayong gabii" in a sentence?
Example: "Maayong gabii, tulog na." — Good night, time to sleep.
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.