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“Love (verb)” in Bisaya: Gihigugma
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “Love (verb)” is Gihigugma, pronounced gee-hee-GOOG-mah. It's used as a verb in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.
Bisaya translation
Gihigugma
gee-hee-GOOG-mah
- English meaning
- Love (verb)
- Part of speech
- verb
How to pronounce Gihigugma
Say it as gee-hee-GOOG-mah. 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
Gihigugma tika.
“I love you.”
Gihigugma ko ang akong pamilya.
“I love my family.”
Gihigugma niya ang iyang trabaho.
“He/She loves his/her work.”
Common phrases using Gihigugma
- Gihigugma tika pud·I love you too
- Gihigugma tika sa walay katapusan·I love you forever
- Gihigugma tika labaw sa tanan·I love you more than anything
Usage note
The most heartfelt way to say 'I love you' in Bisaya.
Cultural context
Saying 'Gihigugma tika' is very meaningful in Bisaya culture. It's often reserved for deep, sincere expressions of love. For casual affection, 'Palangga tika' is more commonly used.
Synonyms and alternatives
You may also hear Nahigugma ko nimo, Gihigugma ko ikaw as alternative ways to express “Love (verb)” in Bisaya.
Related Bisaya words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "Love (verb)" in Bisaya?
How do you pronounce "Gihigugma"?
What does "Gihigugma" mean in English?
How do you use "Gihigugma" in a sentence?
Is Bisaya the same as Cebuano?
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.