English → Bisaya · Shopping
“Too expensive” in Bisaya: Mahal kaayo
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “Too expensive” is Mahal kaayo, pronounced mah-HAHL kah-AH-yo. It's used as a phrase in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.
Bisaya translation
Mahal kaayo
mah-HAHL kah-AH-yo
- English meaning
- Too expensive
- Part of speech
- phrase
How to pronounce Mahal kaayo
Say it as mah-HAHL kah-AH-yo. 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
Mahal kaayo! Pwede ba mas barato?
“Too expensive! Can it be cheaper?”
Mahal kaayo ni para nako.
“This is too expensive for me.”
Common phrases using Mahal kaayo
- Mahal ra kaayo·That's way too expensive
- Ngano mahal man kaayo?·Why is it so expensive?
Cultural context
Bargaining is common and expected at markets in the Philippines. Saying 'mahal kaayo' is your opening move to negotiate a better price.
Related Bisaya words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "Too expensive" in Bisaya?
How do you pronounce "Mahal kaayo"?
What does "Mahal kaayo" mean in English?
How do you use "Mahal kaayo" 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.