Visayan language

Visayan
Bisaya/Binisaya
Geographic distribution	Visayas, most parts of Mindanao, Masbate, and Mimaropa in the Philippines, Sabah in Malaysia and immigrant communities
Linguistic classification	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Central Philippine Visayan
Subdivisions	Asi Cebuan Central Visayan West Visayan South Visayan (Surigaonon, Butuanon, Tausug)
Glottolog	bisa1268
Geographic extent of Visayan languages based on Ethnologue and the National Statistics Office 2000 Census of Population and Housing Cebuano   Cebuano Central Visayan   Waray   Baybayanon   Kabalian   Hiligaynon   Capiznon   Romblomanon   Bantayanon   Porohanon   Ati West Visayan   Cuyonon   Caluyanon   Aklanon   Karay-a   Inonhan   Ratagnon Asi   Asi South Visayan   Surigaonon   Butuanon   Tausug Bisakol   Masbateño   Southern Sorsogon   Central Sorsogon Other legend   Widespread/L2 use of Cebuano   Widespread/L2 use of Hiligaynon

Cebuano

Central Visayan

West Visayan

Asi

South Visayan

Bisakol

Other legend

Visayan or Bisaya or Binisaya is a group of languages of the Philippines that are related to Tagalog and Bikol, all three of which are part of the Central Philippine languages. Most Visayan languages are spoken in the whole Visayas section of the country, but they are also spoken in the Bicol Region (particularly in Masbate), islands south of Luzon, such as those that make up Romblon, most of the areas of Mindanao and the province of Sulu located southwest of Mindanao. Some residents of Metro Manila also speak Visayan.

Over 30 languages constitute the Visayan language family. The Visayan language with the most speakers is Cebuano, spoken by 20 million people as a native language in Central Visayas, parts of Eastern Visayas, eastern Negros Island Region and most of Mindanao. Two other well-known and widespread Visayan languages are Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), spoken by 10 million in most of Western Visayas, western Negros Island Region and SOCCSKSARGEN, and Waray-Waray, spoken by 3 million in Eastern Visayas.