buang
/ˈbuʔaŋ/
The Bisaya word for the English term 'gago' is buang.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbuʔaŋ/.
Did you know?
- While buang is the most common term for 'crazy' or 'foolish', using it toward a stranger in the Philippines can escalate a minor disagreement into a physical confrontation much faster than in Western cultures.
- In traditional Bisaya folklore and rural beliefs, someone described as buang was sometimes thought to be under the influence of forest spirits rather than suffering from a medical illness.
- If a person says they are 'buang-buang', the meaning shifts from being 'crazy' to simply being 'silly' or 'playful'. This repetition of the word softens the blow and indicates a lack of serious intent.
Examples in context
- Buang gyud ka.You are really a fool.
- Buang man na siya.He is a fool.
Example conversation
Two friends are joking around in a park.
- JoyBuang gyud ka, Jose!You are really a fool, Jose!
- JoseDili ko buang, joke ra to.I'm not a fool, that was just a joke.
- JoySige lang, joke ra pud.It's okay, it was just a joke too.
- JoseSalamat, Joy.Thanks, Joy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buang, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
