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“Partner” in Bisaya: jowa

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “partner” is jowa, pronounced JO-wa. 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

jowa

JO-wa

English meaning
partner / boyfriend / girlfriend (casual slang)
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce jowa

Say it as JO-wa. 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

  • Naa na ba koy jowa?

    “Do I have a partner now?”

Usage note

Casual Filipino slang adopted into everyday Cebuano speech. More informal than uyab.

Related Bisaya words

Uyab

boyfriend / girlfriend / partner

OO-yahb

Pinangga

beloved / cherished

pee-NAHNG-gah

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "partner" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "partner" is jowa, pronounced JO-wa.
How do you pronounce "jowa"?
Pronounce it as JO-wa. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "jowa" mean in English?
"jowa" means "partner / boyfriend / girlfriend (casual slang)" in English. It functions as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "jowa" in a sentence?
Example: "Naa na ba koy jowa?" — Do I have a partner now?
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

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