igsuon nga babaye
/ʔiɡˈsuʔon ŋa baˈbad͡ʒe/word by word
The English word "sister" is translated into Bisaya as igsuon nga babaye.
igsuon nga babaye refers to a woman or girl who shares the same parents as another person.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of igsuon, meaning sibling and nga babaye, meaning female or woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word igsuon is gender-neutral. Therefore, it must be paired with babaye to specify that the sibling is a sister.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔiɡˈsuʔon ŋa baˈbadʒe/
When do people say it?
In informal settings, it is common to use Ate to address an older sister. Conversely, Inday is a term used to informally address a younger sister.
Did you know?
- The word igsuon might be related to the root suon, which means to 'imitate' or 'copy'. This suggests a conceptual link to being a 'copy' or a version of the same person.
- The term Inday is often used for younger sisters but has evolved into a generic affectionate nickname for young women in the Visayas.
- While igsuon nga babaye is the literal term, you will often hear the word Ate used to address an older sister. This term is borrowed from Tagalog and is widely used across the Philippines.
Examples in context
- Ate, asa ka paingon?Sister, where are you going?
- Inday, maka-tabang ka nako?Sister, can you help me?
- Daghan kog igsuon nga babaye.I have many sisters.
- Siya ang akong bugtong igsuon nga babaye.She is my only sister.
- Gwapa kaayo ang akong igsuon nga babaye.My sister is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Juan and Maria are talking about their families.
- JuanNaa ba kay igsuon nga babaye, Maria?Do you have a sister, Maria?
- MariaOo, naa koy usa ka igsuon nga babaye.Yes, I have one sister.
- JuanTigum ba mo pirme?Do you always get together?
- MariaOo, sige mig uban sa akong igsuon nga babaye.Yes, I am always with my sister.
