Shopping Made Simple in Cebuano! Must-Know Phrases for Stores #006

Hello! Today, I will introduce how to shop in Cebuano. When traveling or shopping at local stores, knowing some basic phrases can be very useful. By learning these phrases, you can communicate smoothly with shopkeepers and have a more enjoyable shopping experience. Let’s get started!

*This learning material is designed with the assumption that you will be having lessons with Filipino wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, friends, or language teachers.

Let’s review this video lesson!

In this lesson, you will
1. learn how to ask wh-question in Cebuano.
2. be able to ask questions and reply.

Vocabulary

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

1. Merkado

• Pronunciation: /merˈka.do/
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Market (a place where goods are sold)
• Usage: Used to refer to a public market where people buy and sell food, goods, and other products.

Example Sentences:

1. Moadto ko sa merkado aron mamalit og prutas.
   (I will go to the market to buy fruits.)
2. Ang merkado puno og tawo kada buntag.
   (The market is full of people every morning.)
3. Gipalit niya ang isda sa merkado.
   (He/She bought the fish at the market.)

2. Tindahan

• Pronunciation: /tinˈda.han/
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Store, shop (a place where goods are sold)
• Usage: Refers to small or big establishments selling goods and products.

Example Sentences:

1. Naa ko’y tindahan sa among barangay.
   (I have a store in our barangay.)
2. Palihug palit og asukal sa tindahan.
   (Please buy sugar at the store.)
3. Daghang tindahan sa mall nga namaligya og sinina.
   (There are many stores in the mall that sell clothes.)

3. Bantay

• Pronunciation: /ˈban.taj/
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: To guard, to watch over
• Usage: Used when referring to protecting something, watching over someone, or taking care of something.

Example Sentences:

1. Bantay sa bata samtang moadto ko sa tindahan.
   (Watch over the child while I go to the store.)
2. Bantay og maayo sa imong pitaka kay daghang snatcher sa merkado.
   (Take good care of your wallet because there are many snatchers in the market.)
3. Nagbantay siya sa ilang tindahan kada gabii.
   (He/She watches over their store every night.)

4. Manira

• Pronunciation: /maˈni.ra/
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: To close (a store, door, or something that can be shut)
• Usage: Used when referring to closing an establishment, a door, or something else.

Example Sentences:

1. Manira na ang tindahan alas nuwebe sa gabii.
   (The store closes at nine in the evening.)
2. Palihug manira sa pultahan aron dili musulod ang lamok.
   (Please close the door so that mosquitoes won’t enter.)
3. Nakalimtan nila manira sa mga bintana kagabii.
   (They forgot to close the windows last night.)

5. Mangabli

• Pronunciation: /maŋˈa.bli/
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: To open (a store, door, or something that can be opened)
• Usage: Used when referring to opening an establishment, a door, or any object that can be opened.

Example Sentences:

1. Mangabli ang tindahan alas siyete sa buntag.
   (The store opens at seven in the morning.)
2. Palihug mangabli sa bintana aron mosulod ang preskong hangin.
   (Please open the window so fresh air can enter.)
3. Mangabli ang bag-ong supermarket sunod bulan.
   (The new supermarket will open next month.)

6. Halin

• Pronunciation: /haˈlin/
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Sales, earnings from selling
• Usage: Used when referring to the income generated from selling goods.

Example Sentences:

1. Dako ang halin sa among tindahan karong semana.
   (Our store had high sales this week.)
2. Wala pa kaayo koy halin kay gamay lang ang namalit.
   (I haven’t earned much because only a few people bought something.)
3. Ang iyang halin sa merkado igo ra para sa ilang panginabuhi.
   (Her earnings from the market are just enough for their daily needs.)

7. Baligya

• Pronunciation: /baˈliɡ.ja/
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• Meaning: Sale (noun) / To sell (verb)
• Usage: Used when referring to something being sold or the act of selling.

Example Sentences:

1. Daghan og baligya sa tiangge kada Sabado. (There are many items for sale at the bazaar every Saturday.)
2. Nagbaligya siya og prutas sa merkado. (He/She is selling fruits at the market.)
3. Naa kay baligya nga bag-ong produkto? (Do you have new products for sale?)

8. Panagsaan

• Pronunciation: /pa.naɡˈsaʔ.an/
• Part of Speech: Adverb / Noun
• Meaning: Seldom, rarely, infrequent occurrence
• Usage: Used to describe something that does not happen often.

Example Sentences:

1. Panagsaan lang ko moadto sa merkado. (I seldom go to the market.)
2. Panagsaan lang sila magkita kay layo ang ilang balay. (They rarely see each other because their houses are far apart.)
3. Panagsaan lang ni Mama magluto og special nga sud-an. (Mom rarely cooks special dishes.)

9. Mahal

• Pronunciation: /maˈhal/
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Expensive, costly
• Usage: Used when referring to the high price of goods or services.

Example Sentences:

1. Mahal kaayo ang presyo sa prutas karon. (The price of fruits is very high now.)
2. Dili ko maka-afford kay mahal ang sapatos nga akong gusto. (I can’t afford it because the shoes I want are expensive.)
3. Mas mahal ang baligya sa mall kaysa sa merkado. (The items in the mall are more expensive than in the market.)

Flashcards

Dialogue Practice

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

John: Oi Jim! Asa ka?

Jim: Moadto ko sa merkado. Ikaw?

John: Moadto ko sa tindahan namo.

Jim: Kinsa ang nagbantay sa inyong tindahan karon?

John: Akong asawa ang nagbantay karon.

Jim: Unsa mo orasa manira?

John: Manira mi alas diyes.

Jim: Tibuok adlaw sad diay mo mangabli.

John: O aron dako og halin.

Jim: Mangutana ko bai. Tagpila ang baligya ninyo sa serbesa?

John: Tag-otsenta among baligya. Mahal na ang mga ilimnun gud.

Jim: Lagi mahal na jud.

John: Pero moinum ra gihapon ta oi. Hahaha

Jim: Aw o oi. Pero panagsaan na lang kay mahal naman.

Key note

Here are the meanings, parts of speech, usage situations, and example sentences for each Cebuano word:

1. Asa (Where)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “Where” (used to ask about location)
• Usage: Used to ask about the place where something is located

Examples:

1. Asa ka moadto? (Where are you going?)
2. Asa ang hospital? (Where is the hospital?)
3. Asa nimo gibutang ang libro? (Where did you put the book?)

2. Asa (Which)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “Which” (used to choose between options)
• Usage: Used when selecting one from multiple options

Examples:

1. Asa sa duha ang gusto nimo? (Which of the two do you want?)
2. Asa nga restaurant ang pinakalami? (Which restaurant is the best?)
3. Asa nga sanina imong paliton? (Which dress will you buy?)

3. Unsa (What)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “What” (used to ask about things, objects, or content)
• Usage: Used when inquiring about information, objects, or actions

Examples:

1. Unsa imong pangalan? (What is your name?)
2. Unsa ang imong gusto? (What do you want?)
3. Unsa ang problema? (What is the problem?)

4. Kanus-a (When)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “When” (used to ask about time)
• Usage: Used to inquire about the time something happens

Examples:

1. Kanus-a ka manganak? (When will you give birth?)
2. Kanus-a magsugod ang klase? (When does the class start?)
3. Kanus-a ka moadto sa Cebu? (When will you go to Cebu?)

5. Kinsa (Who)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “Who” (used to ask about a person)
• Usage: Used when inquiring about someone’s identity

Examples:

1. Kinsa imong maestro? (Who is your teacher?)
2. Kinsa ang naghatag nimo ug regalo? (Who gave you the gift?)
3. Kinsa imong gipili? (Who did you choose?)

6. Kang kinsa (Whose / To whom)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “Whose” (asking about ownership) / “To whom” (asking about a recipient)
• Usage: Used to ask about possession or the recipient of an action

Examples:

1. Kang kinsa ni nga libro? (Whose book is this?)
2. Kang kinsa ka nagpadala ug sulat? (To whom did you send the letter?)
3. Kang kinsa ni nga kwarta? (Whose money is this?)

7. Ngano (Why)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “Why” (used to ask about reasons)
• Usage: Used when asking for an explanation or reason

Examples:

1. Ngano wala ka moanhi? (Why didn’t you come?)
2. Ngano naghilak ka? (Why are you crying?)
3. Ngano siya ang imong gipili? (Why did you choose him/her?)

8. Tagpila (How much – Price)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “How much” (used to ask about prices)
• Usage: Used when asking about the cost of something

Examples:

1. Tagpila ang bugas? (How much is the rice?)
2. Tagpila ang imong sapatos? (How much are your shoes?)
3. Tagpila ang plite sa jeepney? (How much is the jeepney fare?)

9. Pila (How many / How much – Quantity or Age)

• Part of speech: Interrogative
• Meaning: “How many” (used to ask about countable things) / “How much” (used for amounts)
• Usage: Used when asking about numbers, amounts, or age

Examples:

1. Pila imong edad? (How old are you?)
2. Pila ka kilo ang imong gipalit? (How many kilos did you buy?)
3. Pila ang total? (How much is the total?)

Comprehension Quiz

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

1. How do we say ‘How many’ in Cebuano?
   a. tagpila
   b. pila
   c. unsa
   d. kinsa
2. How do you answer the question ‘Tagpila ni?’ ?
   a. kinsa
   b. tagpila
   c. pila
   d. tagkinse
3. How do you answer the question ‘Kang kinsa kini?’?
   a. Wala
   b. Tagdose
   c. Ang baboy
   d. Kang Emily
4. What does the word ‘kanus-a’ mean?
   a. when
   b. how
   c. what
   d. why
5. What the correct translation of the question ‘Asa ani?’?
   a. Where is it?
   b. Why is it?
   c. Which one?
   d. What is it?

Fill-in-the-Blanks

Directions: Complete the sentence with the correct Cebuano word.

1. Oi Jim! _____ ka?
   (Oh Jim! Where are you going?)
2. Moadto ko sa _____. Ikaw?
   (I will go to _____. How about you?)
3. Kinsa ang nagbantay sa inyong _____ karon?
   (Who is looking after your _____ now?)
4. Tag-_____ among baligya. Mahal na ang mga ilimnun gud.
   (We sell it for _____ pesos. Drinks are already expensive.)
5. Aw o oi. Pero _____ na lang kay mahal naman.
   (Oh yes. But only _____ because it’s expensive.)

Phrase Matching Exercise

Directions:the Cebuano (1-9) with the correct English (A-J).

Rearranging Sentence Quiz

Arrange the words to make sentences.

1. bombay / naa / mo’y / ?
2. naghilak / day / ngano / ka / ?
3. tindahan / ang / kinsa / inyong / karon / sa / nagbantay / ?
4. orasa / mo / unsa / manira / ?
5. among / baligya / tag-otsenta

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s use the wh-question that you’ve learned during
the lesson and make some sentences using the wh-question.
For example:
Kang kinsa kini nga sakyanan?
Whose car is this?

1. Unsa –
2. Asa (where) –
3. Kanus-a –
4. Kinsa –
5. Kang kinsa –
6. Asa (which) –
7. Ngano –
8. Tagpila –
9. Pila –

Answer

Here are the correct answers for the Comprehension Quiz:

1. How do we say ‘How many’ in Cebuano?
   b. pila
2. How do you answer the question ‘Tagpila ni?
   d. tagkinse (It means “15 pesos” or “costs 15.”)
3. How do you answer the question ‘Kang kinsa kini?
   d. Kang Emily (It means “This belongs to Emily.”)
4. What does the word ‘kanus-a’ mean?
   a. when
5. What is the correct translation of the question ‘Asa ani?
   c. Which one?

Answers to the Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz

1. Oi Jim! Asa ka?
   (Oh Jim! Where are you going?)
2. Moadto ko sa merkado. Ikaw?
   (I will go to the market. How about you?)
3. Kinsa ang nagbantay sa inyong tindahan karon?
   (Who is looking after your store now?)
4. Tag-otsenta among baligya. Mahal na ang mga ilimnun gud.
   (We sell it for 80 pesos. Drinks are already expensive.)
5. Aw o oi. Pero panagsaan na lang kay mahal naman.
   (Oh yes. But only occasionally because it’s expensive.)

Here are the correct answers for the Phrase Matching Exercise:

Here are the correctly arranged sentences:

1. Naa mo’y bombay?
   (Do you have onions?)
2. Ngano naghilaak ka, day?
   (Why are you crying, young lady?)
3. Kinsa ang nagbantay sa inyong tindahan karon?
   (Who is looking after your store now?)
4. Unsa mo orasa manira?
   (What time do you close?)
5. Tag-otsenta among baligya.
   (We sell it for 80 pesos.)

Part of speech breakdown for Dialogue

Cebuano

John: Oi Jim! Asa ka?
Jim: Moadto ko sa merkado. Ikaw?
John: Moadto ko sa tindahan namo.

Jim: Kinsa ang nagbantay sa inyong tindahan karon?
John: Akong asawa ang nagbantay karon.

Jim: Unsa mo orasa manira?
John: Manira mi alas diyes.

Jim: Tibuok adlaw sad diay mo mangabli.
John: O aron dako og halin.

Jim: Mangutana ko bai. Tagpila ang baligya ninyo sa serbesa?
John: Tag-otsenta among baligya. Mahal na ang mga ilimnun gud.

Jim: Lagi mahal na jud.
John: Pero moinum ra gihapon ta oi. Hahaha

Jim: Aw o oi. Pero panagsaan na lang kay mahal naman.

English

John: Hey Jim! Where are you going?
Jim: I will go to the market. How about you?
John: I will go to our store.

Jim: Who is looking after your store now?
John: My wife is looking after our store now.

Jim: What time do you close?
John: We close at 10 o’clock.

Jim: You open all day too.
John: Yes, to make big sales.

Jim: I have a question. How much do you sell your beer?
John: We sell it for 80 PHP. Drinks are already expensive.

Jim: Yeah, it’s expensive.
John: But we will still drink. Hahaha

Jim: Oh yes. But only occasionally because it’s expensive.

1. Oi Jim! Asa ka?

• Oi – interjection (expression of greeting)
• Jim – proper noun (name)
• Asa – adverb (question word meaning “where”)
• ka – pronoun (2nd person singular “you”)

2. Moadto ko sa merkado. Ikaw?

• Moadto – verb (future tense of “go”)
• ko – pronoun (1st person singular “I”)
• sa – preposition (indicating place)
• merkado – noun (market)
• Ikaw – pronoun (2nd person singular “you”)

3. Moadto ko sa tindahan namo.

• Moadto – verb (future tense of “go”)
• ko – pronoun (1st person singular “I”)
• sa – preposition (indicating place)
• tindahan – noun (store)
• namo – pronoun (1st person plural exclusive “our”)

4. Kinsa ang nagbantay sa inyong tindahan karon?

• Kinsa – pronoun (interrogative “who”)
• ang – article (definite marker)
• nagbantay – verb (present tense of “watch over”)
• sa – preposition (indicating place)
• inyong – pronoun (2nd person plural “your”)
• tindahan – noun (store)
• karon – adverb (time word “now”)

5. Akong asawa ang nagbantay karon.

• Akong – pronoun (1st person singular “my”)
• asawa – noun (wife)
• ang – article (definite marker)
• nagbantay – verb (present tense of “watch over”)
• karon – adverb (time word “now”)

6. Unsa mo orasa manira?

• Unsa – pronoun (interrogative “what”)
• mo – pronoun (2nd person plural/formal singular “you”)
• orasa – noun (time)
• manira – verb (future tense of “close”)

7. Manira mi alas diyes.

• Manira – verb (future tense of “close”)
• mi – pronoun (1st person plural exclusive “we”)
• alas – noun (used before numbers to indicate time)
• diyes – noun (number “ten”)

8. Tibuok adlaw sad diay mo mangabli.

• Tibuok – adjective (entire, whole)
• adlaw – noun (day)
• sad – adverb (also)
• diay – particle (used for emphasis)
• mo – pronoun (2nd person plural/formal singular “you”)
• mangabli – verb (future tense of “open”)

9. O aron dako og halin.

• O – interjection (expression of agreement)
• aron – conjunction (so that)
• dako – adjective (big)
• og – preposition (of)
• halin – noun (sales)

10. Mangutana ko bai. Tagpila ang baligya ninyo sa serbesa?

• Mangutana – verb (future tense of “ask”)
• ko – pronoun (1st person singular “I”)
• bai – noun (informal term for “friend”)
• Tagpila – pronoun (interrogative “how much”)
• ang – article (definite marker)
• baligya – noun (sale/item for sale)
• ninyo – pronoun (2nd person plural “your”)
• sa – preposition (indicating object)
• serbesa – noun (beer)

11. Tag-otsenta among baligya. Mahal na ang mga ilimnun gud.

• Tag-otsenta – numeral (eighty)
• among – pronoun (1st person plural exclusive “our”)
• baligya – noun (sale/item for sale)
• Mahal – adjective (expensive)
• na – adverb (already)
• ang – article (definite marker)
• mga – plural marker (indicating multiple)
• ilimnun – noun (drinks)
• gud – particle (used for emphasis)

12. Lagi mahal na jud.

• Lagi – adverb (indeed)
• mahal – adjective (expensive)
• na – adverb (already)
• jud – particle (emphasis)

13. Pero moinum ra gihapon ta oi. Hahaha

• Pero – conjunction (but)
• moinum – verb (future tense of “drink”)
• ra – particle (only)
• gihapon – adverb (still)
• ta – pronoun (1st person plural inclusive “we”)
• oi – interjection (expression of excitement)

14. Aw o oi. Pero panagsaan na lang kay mahal naman.

• Aw – interjection (expression of realization)
• o – interjection (yes)
• oi – interjection (expression of emphasis)
• Pero – conjunction (but)
• panagsaan – adverb (occasionally)
• na – adverb (already)
• lang – particle (just)
• kay – conjunction (because)
• mahal – adjective (expensive)
• naman – particle (used for emphasis)

Feel free to leave a comment with any requests or questions you may have. We’re always happy to hear from you!