Cebuano language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cebuano |
|
|---|---|
| Bisaya, Sinugboanon | |
| Native to | Philippines |
| Region | Central Visayas and Mindanao |
| Ethnicity | Cebuano people |
| Native speakers | 21 million (2007) The second-most-spoken language in the Philippines. |
| Language family |
Austronesian
|
| Dialects |
Standard Cebuano (Cebu City dialect)
Boholano
Leyteño (Kana)
Mindanao Cebuano (Bisaya)
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| Writing system | Latin (Cebuano alphabet) |
| Official status | |
| Official language in | Regional language in the Philippines. |
| Regulated by | Visayan Academy of Arts and Letters |
Cebuano-speaking area in the Philippines
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Cebuano is a very important language spoken in the Philippines. It is sometimes called Bisaya or Sinugboanon. More than 20 million people use Cebuano every day, making it the second most spoken native language in the country. It belongs to a larger group of languages known as the Visayan language family.
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Where is Cebuano Spoken?
Cebuano is mainly spoken in the central and southern parts of the Philippines. You will hear it a lot in the Central Visayas region. This includes big islands like Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Leyte. It is also widely spoken in many areas of Mindanao, which is the large southern island of the Philippines.
Who Speaks Cebuano?
Most people who speak Cebuano are part of the Cebuano people group. They live in the areas mentioned above. Because so many people speak it, Cebuano is a very important language for communication and culture in these regions.
Cebuano's Language Family Tree
Cebuano is part of a huge language family called Austronesian. This family includes languages spoken across a vast area, from Madagascar to Easter Island. More specifically, Cebuano is a Malayo-Polynesian language. It is also a Philippine language and a Central Philippine language. Think of it like a big family tree, where Cebuano is a branch of the Visayan languages.
Different Ways to Speak Cebuano
Just like English has different accents and dialects, Cebuano also has its own variations. The way people speak Cebuano can be a little different depending on where they live.
- Standard Cebuano is often heard in Cebu City.
- The Boholano dialect is spoken on the island of Bohol.
- People in Leyte might speak a dialect called Leyteño or Kana.
- There is also Mindanao Cebuano, which is often simply called Bisaya in that region.
Writing Cebuano
Cebuano is written using the Latin alphabet. This is the same alphabet used for English. It has its own specific way of spelling words, often using what is called the Cebuano alphabet. This makes it easier for people who know other languages written in the Latin alphabet to learn Cebuano.
Why is Cebuano Important?
Cebuano is a very important language in the Philippines. It helps millions of people communicate every day. It is also a big part of the culture and identity of the Cebuano people. The Visayan Academy of Arts and Letters helps to promote and preserve the language.
Learn More About Cebuano
- Cebuano Wikipedia is a version of Wikipedia written in the Cebuano language.
In Spanish: Idioma cebuano para niños
