# Cuyonon language

Cuyonon is a regional Bisayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines. Cuyonon had been the lingua franca (language used for communication) of the province of Palawan until recently when migration flow into the region rapidly increased. Forty-three percent of the total population of Palawan during the late 1980s spoke and used Cuyonon as a language. Later studies showed a significant decrease in the number of speakers due to an increase of Tagalog-speaking immigrants from Luzon.
The Cuyonon language is classified by the Summer Institute of Linguistics as belonging to the Central Philippine, Western Bisayan, Kuyan subgroup. The largest number of speakers lives in the Cuyo Group of Islands, which is located between northern Palawan and Panay Island.

## Phonology
### Consonants

| | Labial | Labial | Alveolar | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Velar | Glottal |
| Plosive | p | b | t | d | | k | ɡ | ʔ |
| Fricative | | | s | s | | | | h |
| Nasal | m | m | n | n | | ŋ | ŋ | |
| Tap/Flap | | | ɾ | ɾ | | | | |
| Approximant | w | w | l | l | j | | | |

### Vowels

| | Front | Central | Back |
| Close | i | | |
| Mid | | ɘ | o |
| Open | | a | |
Unlike most Philippine languages, Cuyonon only includes one close vowel. The close vowel [e] only occurs in loanwords from Spanish, either directly or through Tagalog.

## Simple greetings

* Good afternoon – Mayad nga apon
* Good evening/night – Mayad nga gabi
* How are you? – Komosta kaw?
* I'm fine/good and you? – Mayad da, ay ikaw?
* I'm just fine, by the grace of God – Kaloy' Dios, mayad da.
* Thank you – Salamat
* Where are you going? – Adin kaw mapakon?
* What are you doing? – Agaiwan kaw? / Anono imong ingboboat?
* Oh, nothing in particular. – Ara ra.
* Please come in. – Dayon kamo.
* Long time no see. – Maboay kita ren nga ara ibagatan.

## Common expressions

| Cuyonon | Kinaray-a | Tagalog | English |
| Mayad nga timprano | Mayad nga aga | Magandáng umaga | Good morning |
| Mayad nga ogtong adlaw | Mayad nga adlawon | Magandáng tanghalì | Good noon |
| Mayad nga apon | Mayad nga hapon | Magandáng hapon | Good afternoon |
| Mayad nga sirem | Mayad nga sirum | Magandáng takipsilim | Good dusk |
| Mayad nga gabi | Mayad nga gabi-i | Magandáng gabí | Good evening |
| Mayad nga adlaw | Mayad nga adlaw | Magandáng araw | Good day |
| Aroman | Sarum-an | Bukas | Tomorrow |
| Dominggo | Domingo | Linggo | Sunday |
| Bolan | Bulan | Buwán | Month |
| Dagon | Tuig | Taón | Year |
| Matamang salamat | (Dërë/Rakë) nga salamat | Maraming salamat | Thanks a lot |
| Inggegegman ta kaw | Ginahigugma ta ikaw | Mahal kitá | I love you |
| Ingerepan ako kanimo | Ga-ëgët takën kanimo | Naiinís akó sa iyo | I hate you |
| Een | Hëëd | Oo | Yes |
| Beken/Indi | Indî/bëkën | Hindî | No |
| Amos | Dali rën | Tara na | Let's go |
| Maderep | Mapisan | Masipag | Industrious |
| Maambeng | Masadya | Masayá | Happy |
| Masabor | Manamit | Masaráp | Delicious |
| Mabaskeg | Mabaskëg | Malakás | Strong |
| Ambog / Boriten | Hambog | Mayabang | Boastful |
| Kabos | Mango | Mangmang | Dumb |
| Engey | Buang/buangit | Baliw | Crazy |
| Bengel | Bëngël | Bingí | Deaf |
| Maiseg | Maisëg | Matapang | Brave |
| Maloyo | Mahinay | Mabagal | Slow |
| Tekagan | Biga-ën/Bigatlën | Malandî | Flirtatious |
| Diablo | Yawa/Kadë | Masama | Demon |
| Boring | Higkë/Buring | Dumi | Dirt |
| Makori | Mabëdlay/Malisud | Mahirap | Difficult |
| Adlek | Hadlëk | Takót | Afraid |
| Lalaki | Laki | Lalaki | Male |
| Babai' | Bahi/Bayi | Babae | Female |
| Manong | Manong | Kuya | Older brother |
| Manang | Manang | Ate | Older sister |
| Matinlo kaw | Gwapa 'kaw | Maganda ka | You are beautiful |
| Goapo kaw | Gwapo 'kaw | Pogi ka | You are manly |
| Maleban kaw | Ma-alwan 'kaw | Mabait ka | You are kind |
| Amblig | Halong/Mag-amlig | Mag-ingat ka | Take care |
| Karawat | Sipal | Laro | Play |
| Tio | Ayam | Aso | Dog |
| Koti' | Kuti | Pusa | Cat |
| Ambe | Balabaw | Daga | Rat |
| Palamingko' | Lasga/Guyum | Langgam | Ant |
| Kalag | Kalag | Kaluluwa | Spirit |
| Aso' | Aso | Usok/Aso | Smoke |
| Tobig | Tubig | Tubig | Water |
| O'bong | Babaw | Itaas | Up |
| Idalem | Dalëm | Ilalim | Down |
| Koarta | Kwarta | Salapí | Money |
| Sinsilio | Sinsilyo | Barya | Coins |
| Palingki | Mercado/Tienda | Palengke/Pamilihan | Market |

## Parts of the body

| Cuyonon | Kinaray-a | Tagalog | English |
| Olo | Ulo | Ulo | Head |
| Mata | Mata | Mata | Eye |
| Bok | Buhok | Buhok | Hair |
| Irong | Irong | Ilong | Nose |
| Talingâ | Talinga | Tainga/Tenga | Ear |
| Bibig | Bibig | Labi | Lip |
| Baba | Baba | Bibig | Mouth |
| Ipen | Unto | Ngipin | Tooth |
| Pisngi | Yahun | Pisngi | Cheek |
| Daí | Dahi | Noo | Forehead |