Two other well-known and widespread Bisayan languages are Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), spoken by 9 million in most of Western Visayas and Soccsksargen; and Waray-Waray, spoken by 6 million in Eastern Visayas region.

Prior to colonization, the script and calligraphy of most of the Visayan peoples was the badlit, closely related to the Tagalog baybayin.

To speakers of Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon and Tausug, the term Visayan usually refers to either Cebuano or Hiligaynon.

[2] Tausug is noted to have diverged early from the group and may have avoided some sound changes that affected the others.

The South Bisayan languages are considered to have diverged first, followed by Cebuan and then the rest of the three branches.

The recently documented languages Karolanos, Magahat, and Kabalian are not listed in Zorc (1977).