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“Scared” in Bisaya: Hadlok

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “scared” is Hadlok, pronounced HAHD-lohk. It's used as a adjective in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

Hadlok

HAHD-lohk

English meaning
Scared / Afraid
Part of speech
adjective

How to pronounce Hadlok

Say it as HAHD-lohk. 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

  • Nahadlok ko sa iro.

    “I'm scared of the dog.”

Usage note

'Nahadlok ko' means 'I am scared.' Used for both physical fear and emotional anxiety.

Synonyms and alternatives

You may also hear Nahadlok, Kuyaw as alternative ways to express “scared” in Bisaya.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "scared" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "scared" is Hadlok, pronounced HAHD-lohk.
How do you pronounce "Hadlok"?
Pronounce it as HAHD-lohk. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Hadlok" mean in English?
"Hadlok" means "Scared / Afraid" in English. It functions as a adjective in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Hadlok" in a sentence?
Example: "Nahadlok ko sa iro." — I'm scared of the dog.
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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