Dialects
Cebuano can vary significantly depending on where it is spoken, particularly on the preference for vowel allophones or consonants. Words like kalayo ("fire") can become kalajo or kajo in some regions. Gahì ("hard") forms of vowels are also preferred in some areas. For example, /o/ or /ɛ/ sounds in some areas can become /u/ or /i/ sounds in others.
Colloquialisms can also be used to determine the regional origin of the speaker. Cebuano-speaking people from Cagayan de Oro, for example, say "chada" or tsada/patsada (roughly translated to the English colloquialism "awesome"), while Cebuanos from Cebu say nindot or anindot.
Increasing usage of spoken English (being the primary language of commerce and education in the Philippines) has led to the introduction of new pronunciations and spellings of old Cebuano words. /dʒ/ now routinely replace /dj/ sounds, /tʃ/ for /ts/, etc. Code-switching forms of English and Bisaya (Bislish) is also common among the educated younger generations.
There are four main dialectal groups within Cebuano. They are as follows:
Read more about this topic: Cebuano Language