Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Visayan Islands

Visayan Islands

1 5.9
A group of islands in the central Philippines between Luzon and Mindanao
  • proper noun
: islas Visayas
  • The Visayan Islands, located in the central Philippines, are famous for their historical significance and natural beauty.

Examples

  • By June 12, Japanese forces on Okinawa were either surrendering or committing mass suicide, and all resistance ended on the Visayan Islands, where Japanese losses were estimated at 10,000 dead.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Tourists flock to the Visayan Islands to experience the vibrant marine life and stunning landscapes.

  • The Visayan Islands are known for their beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.

Synonyms

Visayas
vsVisayan Islands
1 7.2

A group of islands in the central Philippines

describes location simply by naming position between Luzon and Mindanao
Bisayas
vsVisayan Islands
9.4

A group of islands in the central Philippines that makes a major region

gives a simple location note about position between Luzon and Mindanao

Surface Forms

Visayan Islands main

Morphology

Visayan + island

The phrase is fully compositional: 'Visayan' denotes the people/region (Visayas) and 'islands' denotes landmasses surrounded by water, so together they denote the islands associated with the Visayan region/people. This proper-name formation follows straightforward noun + modifier logic and a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the intended geographic meaning.

Etymology

Visayan Islands comes from the people called the Visayans, who have lived on these islands for a long time. So the name simply means 'islands of the Visayan people'.