Maranao (Filipino: Wikang Mëranaw[4]; Jawi: باسا أ مراناو), sometimes spelled as Maranaw, Meranaw or Mëranaw, is an Austronesian language spoken by the Maranao people in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and their respective cities of Marawi and Iligan located in the Philippines, as well found also in Sabah, Malaysia.

[9] In social media, speakers use either of the two letters or just leave it blank (e.g. saken can also be spelled sakn and sakun on the internet).

The orthography used in the study by Lobel (2009) was the one developed by Aleem Abdulmajeed Ansano of Taraka (1943–2008), Senator Ahmad Domocao "Domie" Alonto of Ramain (1914– 2002), and Shaiekh Abdul Azis Guroalim Saromantang of Tugaya (1923–2003).

However, this process is not a form of gemination since consonant elongation in Maranao is not distinctive as seen in other Philippine languages such as Ilokano and Ibanag.

A study by Allison[12] noted that Proto-Danao *b, *d, g* were lost in modern Maranao when found before other consonants with the same place of articulation (Ex: *bp > *p), but preserved elsewehere.

Lobel[10] noted that this sound change actually resulted in two features of Maranao phonology: heavy consonants and raised vowels (*[-bpa-] > [-pʰɤ-]).

(Subject) (Direct Object) (Benefactor/Location) Genitive (Possessive) Curiously, the sa is indefinite in Maranao, whereas it is definite/specific in Cebuano and Tagalog.

Bigan siran sa kabnar ago gagaw na aya patot a di kapakasusurota o omani isa ko kapakiphapagariya.

Cebuano:Ang tanáng tawo kay gipakatawo nga may kagawasan ug managsama sa kaligdong.

Tagalog:Ang lahát ng tao'y isinilang na malayà at pantáy-pantáy sa karangalan at mga karapatán.