Kinaray-a

Spoken across Antique and other parts of Panay, this warm Visayan language preserves the traditions and identity of Karay-a communities.

Kinaray-a, also written Karay-a, is spoken mainly in Antique, as well as communities in Iloilo, southern Capiz, and parts of Mindanao settled by families from Panay.

 It belongs to the Visayan family of Philippine languages and is closely connected to the history and culture of western and central Panay.

Click here to view a map of where Waray is spoken in the Philippines. 

💡 Fun Fact: The name Kinaray-a is connected to iraya, a word associated with inland or upland areas, in contrast to communities closer to the coast.

  • Hello / Good day → Mayad nga adlaw (mah-YAHD ngah AHD-lahw)
  • How are you? → Kumusta ka? (koo-MOOS-tah kah)
  • Good morning → Mayad nga aga (mah-YAHD ngah AH-gah)
  • Good afternoon → Mayad nga hapun (mah-YAHD ngah HAH-poon)
  • Good evening → Mayad nga gabi-i (mah-YAHD ngah gah-BEE-ee)
  • Thank you → Salamat (sah-LAH-maht)
  • Please → Palihog (pah-LEE-hog)
  • Yes / No → Hu-o / Indi (hoo-OH / een-DEE)
  • Where are you going? → Diin kaw maagto? (dee-EEN kow mah-AHG-toh)
  • Where is ___? → Diin ang ___? (dee-EEN ahng ___)
  • How much is this? → Tagpila ini? (tag-PEE-lah ee-NEE)
  • I want to go to ___ → Gusto ko maagto sa ___ (GOOS-toh koh mah-AHG-toh sah ___)
  • Stop here → Diri lang (dee-REE lahng)
  • I don't understand → Indi ko maintindihan (een-DEE koh mah-een-teen-dee-HAHN)
  • Delicious → Manamit (mah-NAH-meet)
  • Water → Tubig (TOO-big)
  • I'm hungry → Gutom ako (GOO-tohm ah-KOH)
  • Let's eat → Kaon kita (KAH-on kee-TAH)
  • Food → Pagkaon (pahg-KAH-on)
  • Help! → Bulig! (BOO-lig)
  •  Police → Pulis. (poo-LEES) 
  • Doctor → Doktor (dok-TOR)
  • I'm lost → Nadula ako (nah-DOO-lah ah-KOH)
  • I need help → Kinahanglan ko bulig (kee-nah-HANG-lahn koh BOO-lig)
  • One → Isa (ee-SAH)
  • Two → Duha (doo-HAH)
  • Three → Tatlo (taht-LOH)
  • Four → Apat (AH-paht)
  • Five → Lima (lee-MAH)
  • Six → Anum (ah-NOOM)
  • Seven → Pito (pee-TOH)
  • Eight → Walo (wah-LOH)
  • Nine → Siyam (see-YAHM)
  • Ten → Napulo (nah-POO-loh)