An Waray

An Waray, often shortened to Waray, refers to several related but distinct concepts primarily associated with the Samar-Leyte region of the Philippines:

• The Waray Language: This is the primary meaning and most common usage. Waray is an Austronesian language spoken in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran in the Philippines. It belongs to the Bisayan language family. While mutually intelligible to a degree with other Bisayan languages, it is considered a distinct language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions.

• The Waray People (Waray-Waray): This refers to the ethnolinguistic group whose native language is Waray. The Waray people are predominantly found in the Samar and Leyte islands of the Philippines. Their culture is rich in traditions, folklore, and historical accounts.

• The Waray Culture: This encompasses the customs, traditions, arts, literature, and beliefs of the Waray people. This includes their unique oral traditions, dances, songs, cuisine, and social structures.

The term "Waray" itself translates roughly to "none" or "nothing" in the Waray language. The origin of using this word to refer to the people and language is subject to differing theories, none definitively proven.