English → Bisaya · Expressions

“That's it” in Bisaya: mao

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “that's it” is mao, pronounced MA-o. 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

mao

MA-o

English meaning
that's it / yes, that's the one / it is so
Part of speech
adverb

How to pronounce mao

Say it as MA-o. 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

  • Mao! Mao gyud na!

    “That's it! That's exactly it!”

Usage note

One of the most useful Cebuano words — confirms identity, agreement, or accuracy. 'Mao na' = that's already it.

Related Bisaya words

Oo

Yes

oh-OH

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "that's it" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "that's it" is mao, pronounced MA-o.
How do you pronounce "mao"?
Pronounce it as MA-o. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "mao" mean in English?
"mao" means "that's it / yes, that's the one / it is so" in English. It functions as a adverb in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "mao" in a sentence?
Example: "Mao! Mao gyud na!" — That's it! That's exactly it!
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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Browse the full Bisaya dictionary, compare words across all five Visayan languages, or jump into our beginner's guide.

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