luya

1 Part of speech, core meaning, usage, and example sentences

Part of speech: adjective (also noun “ginger,” but focus here on the adjective)
Meaning: “weak,” “feeble,” “lacking strength or energy,” sometimes “faint-hearted.”

Example sentences

• Luya ko pagkahuman sa sakit. – I’m weak after the illness.
• Luya kaayo ang kuryente; sige’g brown-out. – The electricity is very weak; brownouts keep happening.
• Luya ang iyang tingog sa presentasyon. – Her voice is weak during the presentation.
• Niluya ang hangin pagkahuman sa ulan. – The wind grew weak after the rain.

2 Linkers and derivational patterns

• Linkers
  • -ng before a consonant → luya-ng lawas – weak body.
  • nga before a vowel / clarity → luya nga signal – weak signal.
• Degree & intensity
  • mas luya – weaker.
  • pinakaluya – weakest.
  • luya-luya – rather weak.
  • luya kaayo / luya gyud – very weak.
• Exclamatory & abstract forms
  • Kaluya oy! – How weak!
  • kaluya – weakness, feebleness.
  • pagkaluya – the state of being weak.
• Verb relatives
  • muluya / niluya / nagluya – to become weak.
  • paluyaa! / paluyaon – to weaken something.

3 Where to use it in a sentence

1. Predicate adjective: Ang signal luya. – The signal is weak.
2. Modifier with linker: luya nga signal.
3. After emphasis: Mao ni ang luya nga bahin sa argumento. – This is the weak part of the argument.

4 Common collocations

• luya nga lawas – weak body
• luya nga tingog – faint voice
• luya nga koneksyon – weak connection
• luya nga karakter – weak character
• luya-luya nga pulse – rather weak pulse

5 Detailed usage notes

“Luya” covers physical frailty (luya nga lawas), low intensity (luya nga suga – dim light), and figurative lack of resolve (luya nga determinasyon).
When it precedes a noun, use a linker; when it follows as predicate, none is needed. Comparatives (mas luya) and superlatives (pinakaluya) follow standard Cebuano patterns. Reduplication (luya-luya) softens the statement to “somewhat weak.” Verb forms like niluya describe something losing strength.

6 Common mistakes

• Missing linker: ✗ luya signal → ✓ luya nga signal.
• Saying luya mas instead of mas luya.
• Splitting pinaka: ✗ pinaka luya → ✓ pinakaluya.
• Confusing luya (weak) with lu-ya (ginger) in context.
• Dropping hyphen in reduplication: ✗ luyaluya → ✓ luya-luya.

7 Five conversational phrases

1. Kaluya sa akong lawas human sa night shift! – My body feels so weak after the night shift!
2. Mas luya ko kon way breakfast. – I’m weaker when I skip breakfast.
3. Pinakaluya gyud ko pagkadlaw after the flu. – I felt the weakest on the day after the flu.
4. Luya-luya pa ang bata; huwat-an nato og pahuway. – The child is still rather weak; let’s let him rest.
5. Ayaw paluya-a imong kumpyansa, kaya ra nimo! – Don’t weaken your confidence; you’ve got this!

8 Five short exchanges

1. Q: Luya ba ka human og dagan? – Are you weak after running?
   A: Oo, luya kaayo ko; kinahanglan ko’g tubig. – Yes, I’m very weak; I need water.
2. Q: Ngano mas luya man ang signal karong buntag? – Why is the signal weaker this morning?
   A: Mas luya kay nag-ayo pa ang tower. – Weaker because the tower is under maintenance.
3. Q: Asa ang pinakaluya nga parte sa atong sistema? – Which part of our system is the weakest?
   A: Ang security pinakaluya; gamay ra’g encryption. – The security is the weakest; encryption is minimal.
4. Q: Luya-luya pa ba imong tuhod human sa operasyon? – Are your knees still a bit weak after the operation?
   A: Oo, apan nag-therapy ko matag semana. – Yes, but I’m doing therapy every week.
5. Q: Unsaon nato pagpaluya sa kalaban sa debate? – How do we weaken the opponent in the debate?
   A: I-highlight nato ilang inconsistencies. – Let’s highlight their inconsistencies.

9 Multiple-choice dialogue questions

Q1. Luya ba ang imong tingog?
A. Tingog luya kaayo ang akong.
B. Luya kaayo ang akong tingog.
C. Luya tingog kaayo ang akong.

Q2. Asa ang mas luya, ang suga o ang radyo?
A. Mas luya kaysa suga ang radyo.
B. Suga kaysa radyo ang mas luya.
C. Mas luya ang suga kaysa radyo.

Q3. Pinakaluya ba kini nga team sa liga?
A. Team kini pinakaluya sa liga.
B. Pinakaluya kini nga team sa liga.
C. Kini pinakaluya team sa liga.

Q4. Ngano luya ra imong performance?
A. Luya ra akong performance kay kulang ko’g practice.
B. Performance luya ra akong kay kulang practice ko.
C. Kulang ko’g practice performance luya ra ako kay.

Q5. Kinsa’y naay luya-luya nga argumento batok sa proposal?
A. Si Rey naay luya-luya nga argumento.
B. Naay si Rey luya-luya argumento.
C. Argumento luya-luya naay si Rey.

Answer key and explanations (no tables)

• Q1 – B The adjective phrase luya kaayo naturally precedes the subject ang akong tingog. Options A and C misplace noun and adjectives.
• Q2 – A Comparative structure “Mas luya kaysa X ang Y.” The other two flip comparison elements incorrectly.
• Q3 – B Pinakaluya stands right before kini and links to team with nga. The others jumble demonstrative-noun order.
• Q4 – A Predicate then reason clause gives clear flow. Sentences B and C scramble subject-predicate arrangement.
• Q5 – A Correct “naay + subject + description.” Options B and C break that structure or drop the linker.