English → Bisaya · Common Phrases
“No” in Bisaya: Dili
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “No” is Dili, pronounced DEE-lee. It's used as a adverb in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.
Bisaya translation
Dili
DEE-lee
- English meaning
- No / Not
- Part of speech
- adverb
How to pronounce Dili
Say it as DEE-lee. 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
Dili ko gusto.
“I don't want.”
Usage note
Used for negation. Different from Tagalog 'hindi'.
“No” across Visayan languages
Bisaya is part of a larger family. Here's how the same word appears in five major Visayan languages:
- Cebuanodili
- Hiligaynonindi
- Waraydiri
- Kinaray-aindi
- Tausugdi
Related Bisaya words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "No" in Bisaya?
How do you pronounce "Dili"?
What does "Dili" mean in English?
How do you use "Dili" 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.