page_title: Visayans
section_title: Language
hierarchical_section_title: Visayans / Language
caption_attribution_description: English: Geographic extent of Visayan languages based on Ethnologue and the National Statistics Office 2000 Census of Population and Housing Cebuan &#160;&#160; Cebuano Central Visayan &#160;&#160; Waray &#160;&#160; Baybayanon &#160;&#160; Kinabalian &#160;&#160; Hiligaynon &#160;&#160; Capiznon &#160;&#160; Romblomanon &#160;&#160; Bantayanon &#160;&#160; Porohanon &#160;&#160; Ati West Visayan &#160;&#160; Cuyunon &#160;&#160; Caluyanon &#160;&#160; Aklanon &#160;&#160; Kinaray-a &#160;&#160; Inonhan &#160;&#160; Ratagnon Asi &#160;&#160; Asi South Visayan &#160;&#160; Surigaonon &#160;&#160; Butuanon &#160;&#160; Tausug Bisakol &#160;&#160; Masbatenyo &#160;&#160; Southern Sorsogon &#160;&#160; Central Sorsogon Other legend &#160;&#160;Widespread/L2 use of Cebuano &#160;&#160;Widespread/L2 use of Hiligaynon
context_page_description: Visayans, or Visayan people, are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group native to the whole Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and many parts of Mindanao. They are the largest ethnic group in the geographical division of the country when taken as a single group, numbering some 33.5 million. The Visayas broadly share a maritime culture with strong Roman Catholic traditions merged with cultural elements through centuries of interaction and inter-migrations mainly across the seas of Visayas, Sibuyan, Camotes, Bohol, and Sulu; and in some secluded areas merged with ancient animistic-polytheistic influences. Most Visayans are speakers of one or more Bisayan languages, the most widely spoken being Cebuano, followed by Hiligaynon and Waray-Waray.
context_section_description: Ethnic Visayans predominantly speak at least one of the Bisayan languages, most of which are commonly referred as Binisaya or Bisaya. The table below lists the Philippine languages classified as Bisayan languages by the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Although all of the languages indicated below are classified as "Bisayan" by linguistic terminology, not all speakers identify themselves as ethnically or culturally Visayan. The Tausūg, a Moro ethnic group, only use Bisaya to refer to the predominantly Christian lowland natives which Visayans are popularly recognized as. This is a similar case to the Ati, who delineate Visayans from fellow Negritos. Conversely, the Visayans of Capul in Northern Samar speak Abaknon, a Sama–Bajaw language, as their native tongue.
  ¹ Philippines only.
  ² Philippines only; 1,022,000 worldwide.
caption: Geographic extent of Visayan languages based on Ethnologue and the National Statistics Office 2000 Census of Population and Housing   Cebuano   Waray   Baybayanon   Kinabalian   Hiligaynon   Capiznon   Romblomanon   Bantayanon   Porohanon   Ati   Cuyunon   Caluyanon   Aklanon   Kinaray-a   Inonhan   Ratagnon   Asi   Surigaonon   Butuanon   Tausug   Masbatenyo   Southern Sorsogon   Northern Sorsogon   Widespread/L2 use of Cebuano   Widespread/L2 use of Hiligaynon
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