Mother Tongue (MTB) Sinugbuanong Binisaya
Mga Kolor (Bisaya Colors)
The names of colors in Sinugbuanong Binisaya (Bisaya or Cebuano) plus a free Bisaya color chart and free worksheets to help reinforce learning.
Bisaya Color Names
These are the names of colors in Bisaya (Sinugbuanong Binisaya or Cebuano):
English | Cebuano / Bisaya |
|---|---|
red | puwa / pula* |
orange | kahil |
yellow | dalag / amarilyo |
green | lunhaw / berde |
blue | bughaw / asul |
indigo | tagom |
violet | ubihon / biyoleta / tapol |
brown | tabonon** |
gray | abohon |
black | itom |
white | puti |
pink | rosas / rosa |
purple | dinorado |
peach | milukoton |
golden | buwaw / bulawanon |
* A color you may hear in church during Bible readings is “dagtom-pula,” which means scarlet or crimson.
* The term “tabonon” is usually used when describing brown, relatively dark skin — as opposed to fair skin, which is described as “puti.” When skin is described as “dalag,” it usually implies jaundice, whether in newborns or in those with liver problems.
It’s worth noting that many of these color terms aren’t very often used in ordinary conversation. Exceptions would be puwa (red), puti (white), and itom (black), which do come up a lot.
Free Resources: Bisaya Color Names
Looking for a printable poster on the names of colors in Sinugbuanong Binisaya (Cebuano)? Download and print this free Bisaya Color Chart.
If you’re learning these color names as part of your Mother Tongue Sinugbuanong Binisaya subject, you can use the interactive worksheets in the next section to help you master them. You can also download a printable version of those worksheets here:
Sinugbuanong Binisaya Kindergarten Worksheet: Mga Kolor (Bisaya Colors)
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Sinugbuanong Binisaya Grade 1 Worksheet: Mga Kolor (Bisaya Colors)
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Sinugbuanong Binisaya Grade 2 Worksheet: Mga Kolor (Bisaya Colors)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Colors in Bisaya
What does the Bisaya color dalag mean?
Dalag is the Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color yellow. Another Bisaya word for yellow is amarilyo.
What does the Bisaya color lunhaw mean?
Lunhaw is the Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color green. Another Bisaya word for green is berde.
What does the Bisaya color tabunon mean?
Tabunon (or tabonon) is the Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color brown.
What is the Bisaya word for the color red?
The Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color red is puwa. Some people also use the term pula, which is also the Tagalog/Filipino term for red.
What is the Bisaya word for the color orange?
The Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color orange is kahil. Sometimes it is spelled kahel, which is also one of the Tagalog/Filipino words for orange.
What is the Bisaya word for the color yellow?
The Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color yellow is dalag or amarilyo. The word “nagdalag” is also used to describe the state of having jaundiced skin. The alternative term “amarilyo” reflects the Spanish influence on Filipino languages, particularly on Bisaya, which has a lot of borrowed words from Spanish.
What is the Bisaya word for the color green?
The Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color green is lunhaw. Some people also use the term berde, which is one of the Tagalog/Filipino words for green.
What is the Bisaya word for the color blue?
The Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color is bughaw. Some people also use the term asul, which is likewise the Tagalog/Filipino term for blue.
What is the Bisaya word for the color violet?
There are many Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya terms for colors in the violet and purple family. These include ubi, ubihon, biyoleta, tapol, and dinorado. Many of these terms relate to a purple-colored local root crop.
What is the Bisaya word for the color brown?
The Cebuano or Sinugbuanong Binisaya term for the color brown is tabonon (or tabunon). The Bisaya version of the national anthem begins with the line “Yutang tabunon” — brown land.
Did you enjoy this worksheet on Bisaya colors?
Answer these MTB Sinugboanong Bisaya worksheets next!
- Ang Akong Kaugalingon
- Mga Letra ug Silaba
- Mga Pungan (Nouns)
- Mga Pulingalan (Pronouns)
- Mga Punglihok o Berbo (Verbs)
- Mga Pungway / Pulong Panghulagway (Adjectives)
- Mga Pungwayon o Adberbiyo (Adverbs)
- Build Your Bisaya Vocabulary
- Mga Kanta nga Binisaya