Waray-Waray

Waray-Waray is a member of the Bisayan branch of the Central Philippine language family. It is spoken by 3.6 million people, mainly in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Biliran on the islands of Samar, Leyte and Biliran in the Eastern Visayas Region in the south east of the Philippines. There are also Waray-Waray speakers in the provinces of Masbate and Sorsogon, and on Gibusong island in the province of the Dinagat Islands.

Other names for Waray-Waray include Waray, Samar-Leyte, Winaray, Binisaya nga Winaray, Samarenyo and Lineyte-Samarnon. The word waray means 'nothing'. Dialects include Tacloban, Leyte, Abuyog, Biliran, Culaba, Catbalogan, Calbayog, Allen and Northern Samar. The Tocaloban dialect is consider the 'standard', and is used in the media and education.

Waray-Waray is officially recognised as a regional language of the Philippines. It is written with the Latin alphabet, and is used in local government, in television and radio, and in religious contexts. It is also used as medium of instruction in kindergartens and primary schools.

Waray-Waray alphabet and pronunciation

Waray-Waray alphabet and pronunciation

Sample text in Waray-Waray (Samar dialect)

Nga an ngatanan nga mga tawo, nahimugso talwas ug katpong ha ira dignidad ug katdungan. Hira natawo dinhi ha tuna mayda konsensya ug isip ug kaangayan gud la nga an ira pagtagad ha tagsatagsa sugad hin magburugto.

Sample text in Waray-Waray (Leyte dialect)

Ngatanan nga tawo gin anak na libre ngan paragtas ha dignidad ngan mga katungod. Gintagan hira hin rason ngan konsensiya ngan dapat tratohon nira it kada usa ha espirito hit kamagburugto

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Waray-Waray

Information about Waray-Waray | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Waray-Waray language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray-Waray_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=war
http://www.lowlands-l.net/anniversary/waray-info.php
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/warayglimpses/FAQ.htm
http://e-waray.blogspot.com

Online Waray lessons
http://waraylessons.netfirms.com/

Online Waray-Waray dictionaries
http://www.bansa.org/?q=dictionaries/cmd&dict_lang=Waray

Bisayan languages

Aklan, Bantoanon, Bantayanon, Baybayanon, Butuanon, Caluyanon, Capiznon, Cebuano, Cuyonon, Hiligaynon, Kinabalian, Kinaray-a, Masbateño, Onhan, Porohanon, Romblomanon, Sorsogon (Southern), Surigaonon, Tausūg, Waray-Waray,

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 07.02.24

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