Three Waray Adjectives: MAUPAY, MABAYSAY, MAHUSAY

These three adjectives - maupay, mabaysay, and mahusay - are often interchangeably used by Waray speakers when describing things especially when expressing something positive. I will explain through this post how each word is different from the two other words.

When a thing or an idea is described as maupay, it suggests that it is of good quality. Let's have the following examples:
maupay nga payong (umbrella)
maupay nga bisikleta (bicyle)
maupay nga eskuylahan (school)
maupay nga seminar
maupay nga kahoy (tree)
The focus when describing a thing as maupay is on its function or usability; hence, maupay nga payong suggests that an umbrella is good and that it performs its function well as an umbrella. Maupay nga eskuylahan is a school that offers quality instruction. Meanwhile, a person described as maupay is somebody with good qualities as an individual. It may also suggest that the person has an unquestionable character or reputation.

maupay nga asawa (wife/husband)
maupay nga bata (boy/girl)
maupay nga babaye (woman)
maupay nga duktor (doctor)

mabaysay nga eskuylahan (Visayas State University)

To describe the above-mentioned nouns as mabaysay still suggests goodness or the quality of being good; however, the focus of mabaysay is more on the physical attributes of a thing or of a person. An umbrella may be perceived as mabaysay (beautiful) because of its intricate design. Mabaysay nga kahoy (tree) may imply that it has various colors or that it looks physically good. A school may be described as maupay (offers quality instruction) and mabaysay (having a beautiful campus) at the same time.

maupay nga eskuylahan (Visayas State University)

To a Waray speaker, a seminar may be good (having excellent speakers, good food, comfortable venue), but not beautiful; hence, seminars are rarely described as mabaysay. A doctor is usually maupay (good) nga duktor. To say that the doctor is mabaysay simply means she is a female and is lovely. Yes, the word is not normally used when describing males.


mahusay nga daraga (beautiful lady)

The third adjective, mahusay, also means beautiful or lovely and can be used in lieu of mabaysay. In fact, the two words are almost synonymous.

Here's one very important difference between these two words: an umbrella may be described as mabaysay, but it cannot be called mahusay by a Norte Samarnon Waray speaker. Why? It's because mahusay is exclusively used when describing people, particularly women; thus, we say:
mahusay nga babaye (beautiful woman)
mahusay nga bata (beautiful girl)
mahusay nga asawa (beautiful wife)

8 comments:

  1. good share about your languages. hehe

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. patulong namn poh ! translate in tagalog


    Malabad nga bisita inin lambunaw
    Labi na kun nasulod ha balay
    Ug di man la natoktuk anay

    Malabad
    Kay nga tanan inuokupahan
    Linalabtan, hinuhulos
    An paspasan, mga lingkoranan, an nigo, kaguran
    An sungo, biso, an banig an taklap, an ulonan
    An litrato namon nga duha nga mag asawa…

    Tagtulo, upat pa gud ka adlaw
    Kun nag-inukay ha amon balay

    Diri gud ako namumuyboy
    Nauurit la ako
    Kay inin mga panapton
    Hinin akon pahulay
    Permi la namamaglinuha
    Nasisina ako ha imo yana.
    Karuyag ko ikaw nga lumagbaw .

    Pero, masumo ka kun nalayas ka kay tanan imo dinadara—
    Natitingkan an amon atabay;
    Waray any ha amon gripo
    Ngan pinan-uuhaw iton mga tanaman

    Dara hiri,liliutan ka na liwat naman magmamayaw,magpapangadi
    Maghahalad.papabalikon ka
    Pero,alayon gad ayaw pag dara
    Hin damo ha iyo

    Kay iton amon bugas ,
    Iton amon sura ,
    Iton imo bubutangan
    Sakto gad la para yana .

    ReplyDelete
  4. Malabad nga bisita inin lambunaw
    Labi na kun nasulod ha balay
    Ug di man la natoktuk anay

    Pasaway daw yung bisita lalo na kung pumapasok sa bahay. D man lang muna kumatok.

    Malabad
    Kay nga tanan inuokupahan
    Linalabtan, hinuhulos
    An paspasan, mga lingkoranan, an nigo, kaguran
    An sungo, biso, an banig an taklap, an ulonan
    An litrato namon nga duha nga mag asawa…

    Pasaway kasi lahat inooccupy,ginagalaw, binabasa ang doormat, mga upuan. Pati banig, kumot, unan pati picture frame nilang mag asawa.

    3-4 days pa tumuloy sa bahay.

    Im not really fluent in waray pero mukhang inis yung sumulat dun sa bisita.

    ReplyDelete
  5. damo nga salamat hinin nga imo maupay nga sumat, usa ini nga magpapahalawig hit aton kayakan. Tindog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ano sa waray ang ang tagal naman ng sundo ko

    ReplyDelete