Common Expressions Using the Word "Waray"

Masuna ngan waray uran yana nga aga didi sa VSU.  [It's a bright rainless morning here at VSU (Visayas State University).]

The word Waray does not only refer to the Waray-speaking people or to the Waray language, but it also refers to one particular Waray word, "waray", which means "nothing", "none", or "not".  Here's a list of common expressions using the word "Waray".

(1)

Waray ak labot.	I don't care.
waray aram	uneducated
waray batasan	lacking good manners
waray buot	innocent; childish
waray duda	no doubt
waray gamit	useless

(2)

Waray ka labot.	It's none of your business.
waray pagkakapoy	untiring
waray kapagalan (N.Samar)/ waray kapaglanan (N.Samar)/ waray pagkatanglay (N.Samar)	untiring
waray kaluoy	ruthless
waray kinabuhi	lifeless
waray makakatupong	unequaled; incomparable

 

(3)

waray pagkahadlok/ waray pagkahadok (N. Samar)	fearless
waray paglubad	unfading
waray pagruhaduha	no second thoughts
waray sarabutan	no idea

(4)

waray tango (N. Samar)/ waray ngipon	toothless
waray tingug-tingog	quiet/ no comment (e.g., My friend was very quiet the whole time we were there.)
waray upay	worthless; no good
waray utang	debt-free
waray kalipay	no happiness

(5)

waray utang nga buot/ waray utang nga kaburut-on	ungrateful
waray dum-it	pure; innocent; inexperienced
waray katapusan/ waray katangposan/ waray pagkatangpos	endless

MABARA-BARA -- Another Way of Describing Objects or Conditions in Waray

Common examples of Waray adjectives are mahusay (beautiful), mabara (ugly), mataba (plump), mahugos (thin/skinny), maduas (pale), mabusag (having the quality of being white), mabaga (having the condition of being red), mapili (having the condition of being black), bulaw (brown), maupay (good), marasa (delicious), mabaho (stinky/smelly), and mahumot (fragrant).

By repeating the root word, a new meaning is created:

mahusay-husay	almost beautiful
mabara-bara	slightly ugly
mataba-taba	chubby
mahugos-hugos	slightly thin/ slightly skinny
maduas-duas	slightly pale
mabusag-busag	slightly white/ whitish
mabaga-baga	slightly red/ reddish
mapili-pili	slightly black/ blackish
bulaw-bulaw	slightly brown/ brownish
maupay-upay	slightly good
marasa-rasa	slightly delicious
mabaho-baho	a bit stinky/smelly
mahumot-humot	slightly fragrant