English → Bisaya · Body Parts

“Waist” in Bisaya: balikawang

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “waist” is balikawang, pronounced ba-li-KA-wang. 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

balikawang

ba-li-KA-wang

English meaning
waist / hips
Part of speech
noun

How to pronounce balikawang

Say it as ba-li-KA-wang. 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

  • Masakit ang iyang balikawang human sa trabaho.

    “Her waist hurts after work.”

Related Bisaya words

tiyan

stomach / belly / abdomen

TI-yan

bitiis

leg / lower leg / calf

bi-TI-is

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "waist" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "waist" is balikawang, pronounced ba-li-KA-wang.
How do you pronounce "balikawang"?
Pronounce it as ba-li-KA-wang. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "balikawang" mean in English?
"balikawang" means "waist / hips" in English. It functions as a noun in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "balikawang" in a sentence?
Example: "Masakit ang iyang balikawang human sa trabaho." — Her waist hurts after work.
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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