Bisaya Verb Prefixes

actor-focused, future/general, single action

I’ll eat a mango.

mo- / mu-

Mokaon/Mukaon ko og mangga.

actor-focused, past

She left early.

ni- / mi-

Nilakaw/Milakaw siya sayo.

do/perform, often intentional, engage in an activity

We’ll watch a movie.

mag-

Magtan-aw mi og cine.

ongoing, past actor action

They’re eating.

nag-

Nagkaon sila.

action/activity noun

I like reading.

pag-

Ganahan ko sa pagbasa.

cause/let/make, request

I’ll have some fish cooked.

pa-

Paluto ko og isda.

cause someone to do something

I’ll have the child read the book.

ipa-

Ipabasa nako ang libro sa bata.

completed object-focused action

I ate the mango.

gi-

Gikaon nako ang mangga.

object-focused action, often transfer/use

I’ll give the book.

i-

Ihatag nako ang libro.

state/quality or accidental experience in some forms

Happiness is important to life.

ka-

Ang kalipay importante sa kinabuhi.

state/quality, often adjective-like

He/she is a good person.

ma-

Maayo siya nga tawo.

state/result or accidental occurrence

The glass fell.

na-

Nahulog ang baso.

ability/capacity

I can eat here.

maka-

Makakaon ko diri.

cause/enable

His/her story can make people laugh.

maka-

Makapakatawa ang iyang istorya.