Learn how to ask the fare for a motorcycle taxi (habal-habal) in Cebuano
In this lesson, you will:
- Practice asking “How much is the fare?” (Pila ang plite?)
- Learn how to use numbers when talking about prices.
- Understand common driver-passenger conversations.
- Review your skills with a comprehension quiz and exercises.
Perfect for travelers, beginners, and language learners who want to feel confident when taking public transport in the Philippines.
VOCABULARY
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Cebuano Word: asa
Part of speech:
Interrogative word (adverb)
Meaning:
- where
Situations where it is used:
- Used when asking about location, place, or direction.
- Very common in everyday conversation.
- Often combined with verbs of motion (asa ka moadto? = where are you going?).
- Can also be used with prepositions (asa gikan = from where, asa paingon = heading where).
Example sentences:
- Asa ka karon? → Where are you now?
- Asa siya gikan? → Where did he come from?
- Asa ta magkita? → Where shall we meet?
Cebuano Words: pila / tagpila
Part of speech:
Interrogative word (adverb / adjective)
Meaning:
- pila → how many / how much
- tagpila → how much is the price / how much per unit
Situations where they are used:
- pila is general: used for asking about number (how many?) or amount (how much?).
- tagpila is specific: used when asking about price or cost per piece/unit.
- Very common in daily life, especially when shopping or counting.
Example sentences (pila):
- Pila ka tawo ang naa dinhi? → How many people are here?
- Pila imong edad? → How old are you? (literally: How much is your age?)
- Pila ang imong plite? → How much is your fare?
Example sentences (tagpila):
- Tagpila ang mansanas? → How much is the apple?
- Tagpila ni nga sinina? → How much is this shirt?
- Tagpila ang kilo sa bugas? → How much is a kilo of rice?
Cebuano Word: plite
Part of speech:
Noun (sometimes used as a verb)
Meaning:
- fare; the payment made for transportation (jeepney, bus, taxi, tricycle, motorcycle taxi, etc.)
Situations where it is used:
- Everyday conversation, especially in public transport.
- Can also be used as a verb (magplite) meaning “to pay the fare.”
- Comes from the Spanish word “billete” (ticket/money).
Example sentences:
- Tagpila ang plite sa jeep? → How much is the jeepney fare?
- Ihatag ang plite sa konduktor. → Give the fare to the conductor.
- Wala koy plite, maglakaw lang ko. → I don’t have fare money, I’ll just walk.
Cebuano Word: duha
Part of speech:
Numeral
Meaning:
- two
Situations where it is used:
- Used in counting objects, people, or anything in quantity.
- Common in everyday conversation for numbers, age, money, or time expressions.
- Can also be part of compounds (duha ka buok = two pieces, kaduhang higayon = the second time).
Example sentences:
- Duha ka libro ang akong gipalit. → I bought two books.
- Duha sila ka anak. → They have two children.
- Sa duha ka oras, mahuman na. → In two hours, it will be finished.
Cebuano Word: pwede
Part of speech:
Adjective / Modal expression (borrowed from Spanish puede)
Meaning:
- can, may, possible, allowed
Situations where it is used:
- Very common in daily conversation when asking for permission or expressing possibility/ability.
- Often placed at the start of a question (Pwede ko moadto?).
- Can be polite when paired with ba (Pwede ba? = May I?).
Example sentences:
- Pwede ko mosakay diri? → Can I ride here?
- Pwede ba nako gamiton ang imong lapis? → May I use your pencil?
- Pwede nga mo-ulan unya. → It’s possible that it will rain later.
FLASHCARDS
DIALOGUE PRACTICE
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Cebuano Version
Driver: Habal habal mo Ma’am?
Leah: O
Driver: Para asa man?
Leah: Gaisano Tisa.
Joyce: Pila plete padong Gaisano?
Driver: Traynta
Joyce: Pwede baynte duha?
Driver: O
Joyce: Plete ya o.
Driver: Salamat.
English Version
Driver: Do you want to ride habal-habal?
Leah: Yes
Driver: Where are you going? / To where?
Leah: Gaisano Tisa
Joyce: How much is the fare to Gaisano?
Driver: 30 pesos
Joyce: Is 20 pesos okay for the two of us?
Driver: Yes
Joyce: Here’s our fare.
Driver: Thank you.
LESSON
⚫ Pila
How much?
For example:
Pila ang plite padong Gaisano?
How much is the fare to Gaisano?
⚫ Baynte
We use the Spanish-derived numbers for the fare.
For example:
Traynta
30 pesos
Pwede baynte duha?
Is 20 pesos okay for the two of us?
⚫ Para asa man?
The driver usually asks your destination because the fare changes depending on your destination.
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
- How do you say ‘fare’ in Cebauno?
a. pila
b. asa
c. plite
d. duha - Do Cebuano people use the Spanish-derived numbers for the fare?
a. O
d. Dili
c. Ayaw
d. Wala - Does the fare change depending on the destination?
a. O
d. Dili
c. Ayaw
d. Wala - How do you say ‘how much’ in Cebuano?
a. asa
b. pwede
c. duha
d. pila - How do you say ’25’ in Cebuano?
a. baynte kwatro
b. trynata’y singko
c. baynte singko
d. singkwenta’y singko
EXERCISE
Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.
- plite / Gaisano / ang / pila / padong / ?
- duha / baynte / pwede?
- man / asa / para / ?
- o / plete / ya
- asa / man / para / ?
REVIEW
Directions: Let’s do a role play.
Driver: ka Ma’am / Sir?
Passenger: O
Driver: Para man? Passenger: __.
Passenger: _ plite padong __?
Driver: .
Passenger: Pwede lang?
Driver: Sige
Passenger: Salamat.
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