ikaw
/ʔiˈkaw/
In Bisaya, the English phrase 'you' is translated as ikaw.
ikaw is the subject pronoun used to address the person being spoken to. It can also be used in the expression ikaw ra, which is an informal way to say 'only you' and is often used in a friendly or teasing manner.
Meaning: subject pronoun: the person being addressed (pron)
Which one should you use?
Use ikaw when 'you' is the first word of a sentence or if you want to place emphasis on the subject. In contrast, the enclitic form ka is used when 'you' follows a verb or another word.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Ormocano/Northern Leyte Bisaya, the term ka is widely used to mean 'you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun ikaw can be shortened to the enclitic form ka when it follows a verb or another word. If you are addressing more than one person, you should use kamo or the enclitic mo instead.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔiˈkaw/
Did you know?
- The word ikaw is a linguistic descendant of the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian form i-kahu, linking the modern Bisaya pronoun to ancient seafaring ancestors of the Austronesian language family.
- In some Bisaya dialects, using the full form ikaw instead of the short ka can change the tone from a casual observation to a direct accusation or a strong emphasis.
- Using ikaw at the start of a sentence is a common way to signal a shift in topic or to specifically target one person in a crowded room.
Examples in context
- Ikaw ang mahalaga sa trabaho mo.You are important in your work.
- Palihog, ikaw na lang una.Please go ahead of me.
- Ngano man ning kaguol nimo, ikaw?Why are you feeling sad?
- Ikaw ang akong higala.You are my friend.
- Ikaw ba ang manghod ni Maria?Are you Maria's younger sibling?
- Ikaw ra ang nakahibalo niini.Only you know this.
Example conversation
Ricardo and Elena are meeting at a local market.
- RicardoIkaw ba si Elena?Are you Elena?
- ElenaOo, ako si Elena.Yes, I am Elena.
- RicardoLipay ko nga nakaila nimo.I am happy to meet you.
- ElenaLipay sab ko, Ricardo.I am also happy, Ricardo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you” translations and entries ikaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ikaw, CC BY-SA 4.0.
