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The 'Visayan languages' of the Philippines, along with Tagalog and Bikol, are part of the Central Philippine language family. Most Visayan languages are spoken in the Visayas region but they are also spoken in the Bicol Region (particularly in Sorsogon and Masbate), islands south of Luzon such as those that make up Romblon, the northern and western areas of Mindanao, and the province of Sulu located southwest of Mindanao. Some residents of Metro Manila also speak Visayan.
Over thirty 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, northern and eastern parts of Mindanao. Two other well-known Visayan languages are Hiligaynon, spoken by 7 million in western Visayas and Waray-Waray spoken by 3 million in eastern Visayas.

Contents

Nomenclature

Geographic distribution

Table of speakers

Nomenclature

Native speakers of Visayan languages, especially Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Waray-Waray not only refer to their language by their local name, but also by ''Bisaya'' or ''Binisaya'', meaning ''Visayan language''. This is misleading or may lead to confusion as different languages may be called ''Bisaya'' by their respective speakers despite their languages being mutually unintelligible. However, languages that are classified within the Visayan language family but spoken natively in places outside of the Visayas do not use the self-reference ''Bisaya'' or ''Binisaya''. To speakers of Butuanon, Suriganon, and Masbatenyo, the term ''Visaya'' usually refers to Cebuano. Since Tausugs are mostly Muslims, they view the term ''Bisaya'' as a religious term referring to Christian Filipinos (mostly referring either to Cebuano or Hiligaynon as they are the neighboring languages). One must also recognize the distinction between this Bisaya language and people and that of the Malaysian Bisaya.

Geographic distribution

The Visayan languages are further divided into five subfamilies. The list below is by no means exhaustive. Asi and Cebuano constitute their own subfamilies. For a complete listing and information on all Bisayan languages, refer to http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=92372

★ 'Asi' - spoken in towns on Tablas Island as well as the islands of Banton, Simara, and Maestro de Campo in Romblon province..

★ 'Cebuano' - includes Boholano.

★ 'Southern Visayan' - Tausug, Butuanon, and Surigaonon (including Jaun-Jaun).

★ 'Central Visayan' - includes Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Romblomanon, Ati, Capiznon, Masbatenyo, Porohanon, the Bisakol languages of Sorsogon and Northern Samar, and others.

★ 'Western Visayan' - includes Kinaray-a (the major language of Antique), Aklan languages (Aklanon, Malaynon), Onhan, Caluyanon, Cuyonon, Ratagnon, and others.

Table of speakers

Language	ISO 639 Lang Code	Speakers
Aklanon	akl	394,545 (1990 census)
Ati	ati	1,500 (1980 SIL)
Bantoanon	bno	200,000 (2002 SIL)
Butuanon	btw	34,547 (1990 census)
Caluyanon	clu?	30,000 (1994 SIL)
Capiznon	cps	638,653 (2000)
Cebuano	ceb	20,043,502 in the Philippines (1995 census)
Cuyonon	cyo	123,384 (1990 census)
Hiligaynon	hil	7,000,000 in the Philippines (1995)
Inonhan	?	85,829 (2000 WCD)
Kinaray-A	krj	377,529 (1994 SIL)
Malaynon	mlz	8,500 (1973 SIL)
Masbatenyo	msb	350,000 (2002 SIL)
Porohanon	prh	23,000
Ratagnon	?	2 to 3 (2000 Wurm) (Nearly extinct)
Romblomanon and Asi)	rol	200,000 (1987 SIL)
Sorsogon, Masbate	?	85,000 (1975 census)
Sorsogon, Waray	srv	185,000 (1975 census)
Surigaonon	sul	344,974 (1990 census)
Tausug	tsg	900,000 in the Philippines (2000 SIL) (Population total all countries: 1,022,000)
Waray-Waray	war	2,437,688 (1990 census)
	. . Total	33,463,654