Learn how to ask if you are in the right place in Cebuano — perfect for travelers!
In this lesson, you will:
- Practice useful travel phrases like “Is this the right bus/terminal?”
- Learn how to ask departure times for buses, ferries, and planes.
- Use Cebuano vocabulary such as husto (right), pikas (next), mobiyahe (to leave).
- Build confidence with dialogues, a quiz, and practice exercises.
Ideal for travelers, beginners, and language learners who want to communicate effectively in real-life travel situations.
VOCABULARY
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Cebuano Word: husto
Part of speech:
Adjective / Adverb
Meaning:
- correct, right, proper
- enough, sufficient
Situations where it is used:
- Used when judging if something is accurate, proper, or correct.
- Also commonly used when referring to sufficiency (husto na = that’s enough).
- Everyday use in conversation, both formal and informal.
Example sentences:
- Husto imong tubag. → Your answer is correct.
- Husto na ang pagkaon, salamat. → That’s enough food, thank you.
- Wala siya magbuhat sa husto. → He did not do the right thing.
Cebuano Word: mahimo
Part of speech:
Verb / Modal expression
Meaning:
- can, may, possible (ability or permission)
- can be done, can become (possibility, transformation)
- sometimes: to happen, to take place
Situations where it is used:
- Very common in everyday Cebuano, both formal and informal.
- Often used like English can or may when expressing possibility or permission.
- Also means to become or to turn into in some contexts.
- Root: himo = to make/do. Prefix ma- adds the sense of possibility or potential.
Example sentences:
- Mahimo nimo ni buhaton. → You can do this.
- Mahimo ba ko mosulod? → May I come in?
- Ang kahoy mahimo’g lingkuranan. → The wood can become a chair.
- Unsay mahimo nato karon? → What can we do now?
Cebuano Phrase: para sa
Part of speech:
Prepositional phrase
Meaning:
- for (intended for someone/something)
- in behalf of
Situations where it is used:
- Very common in daily speech and writing.
- Used when showing purpose, recipient, or intended target of an action or object.
- Can be used literally (this gift is for you) or figuratively (working for peace).
- Related form: para kang (for + person’s name).
Example sentences:
- Kini nga libro para sa imo. → This book is for you.
- Nagtrabaho siya para sa iyang pamilya. → He works for his family.
- Para sa tanan, importante ang kalinaw. → For everyone, peace is important.
Cebuano Word: pikas
Part of speech:
Noun / Adjective / Preposition (depending on context)
Meaning:
- side, half, the other part
- opposite side
Situations where it is used:
- Refers to one side or half of something (like a shirt, road, object).
- Commonly used to mean “the other side” or “across”.
- Everyday usage in directions, dividing objects, or describing halves.
Example sentences:
- Sa pikas nga kilid sa dalan, naa ang simbahan. → On the other side of the road, there is the church.
- Gisi ang pikas sa sinina. → The other side of the shirt is torn.
- Hatagi ko sa pikas nga tunga sa mangga. → Give me the other half of the mango.
Cebuano Word: mobiyahe
Part of speech:
Verb (actor-focus, future/intentional form)
Meaning:
- to travel, to take a trip, to go on a journey
- sometimes: to operate a vehicle on a trip (like buses, jeepneys, or trucks “making a trip”)
Situations where it is used:
- Used when talking about personal travel (going somewhere for business, leisure, or family visits).
- Also used in transportation contexts, meaning a bus/jeepney/driver will “make a trip” or operate on a route.
- Common in daily conversation, especially related to transportation schedules or plans.
Example sentences:
- Mobiyahe mi paingon sa Cebu ugma. → We will travel to Cebu tomorrow.
- Dili mobiyahe ang mga jeep karon tungod sa bagyo. → The jeepneys will not operate today because of the typhoon.
- Mobiyahe siya kada semana paingon sa probinsya. → He travels to the province every week.
Cebuano Word: kinatibuk-an
Part of speech:
Noun
Meaning:
- totality, entirety, whole, overall
- in general, as a whole
Situations where it is used:
- Used when talking about the general view, summary, or the whole of something.
- Common in both formal (reports, speeches) and informal (daily talk) contexts.
- Root: tibook = whole/entire. With prefix kina- and suffix -an, it turns into an abstract noun meaning the whole of it / the entirety.
Example sentences:
- Ang kinatibuk-an sa estudyante kay 500. → The total number of students is 500.
- Sa kinatibuk-an, maayo ang resulta. → Overall, the result is good.
- Ang kinatibuk-an sa gasto dako kaayo. → The total expenses are very large.
Cebuano Word: usbon
Part of speech:
Verb (object-focus, infinitive/command form)
Meaning:
Situations where it is used:
- Very common in daily life when asking someone to redo or modify something.
- Object-focus form: the thing being changed/repeated is emphasized.
- Root word: usab = change, repeat. The suffix -on makes it “to be changed” or “to be repeated.”
Example sentences:
- Usbon nako ang akong sinina. → I will change my clothes.
- Palihog usba ang imong gisulti. → Please repeat what you said.
- Kinahanglan usbon ang plano. → The plan needs to be changed.
Cebuano Word: isulat
Part of speech:
Verb (object-focus, infinitive/command form)
Meaning:
- to write (something)
Situations where it is used:
- Used when instructing or referring to the act of writing down words, names, answers, or information.
- Focus is on the object being written rather than the writer.
- Root word: sulat = writing. Prefix i- marks it as object-focus, often imperative (write it down).
Example sentences:
- Isulat ang imong ngalan dinhi. → Write your name here.
- Isulat nako ang address aron dili malimtan. → I will write the address so it won’t be forgotten.
- Palihog isulat ang imong tubag sa papel. → Please write your answer on the paper.
Cebuano Word: gipasabot
Part of speech:
Verb (object-focus, past/completed form)
Meaning:
- explained, clarified, made clear
Situations where it is used:
- Used when referring to something that was explained or clarified by someone.
- Root: sabôt = understanding.
- Prefix gi- marks past/completed aspect.
- Infix pa- gives causative sense (to cause someone to understand → to explain).
- So literally, gipasabot = “caused to be understood (already done).”
Example sentences:
- Gipasabot sa maestra ang leksyon. → The teacher explained the lesson.
- Wala pa gipasabot sa doktor ang resulta. → The doctor has not yet explained the result.
- Gipasabot niya nako ang problema. → He explained the problem to me.
FLASHCARDS
DIALOGUE PRACTICE
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Cebuano Version
A.
Joyce: Excuse me ate. Mao ba ni ang hustong terminal para sa bansang Hapon?
Leah: O mao ni day.
B.
Joyce: Excuse me ate. Mao ba ni ang hustong sakayanan og ferryboat para sa isla sa Bohol?
Leah: Dili day. Naa sa pikas terminal.
C.
Joyce: Mao ba ni ang hustong bus para sa Moalboal?
Leah: Dili day. Kini nga bus kay para sa Alcoy.
D.
Joyce: Excuse me ate. Unsang orasa mobiyahe ang bus sa airport?
Leah: Ang bus sa airport kay molarga inig ka alas dos singkwenta.
E.
Joyce: Excuse me ate. Mao ba ni ang hustong bus para sa Moalboal?
Leah: O mao ni day.
F.
Joyce: Unsang orasa mobiyahe ang bus para sa Moalboal ate?
Leah: Ang bus sa Moalboal kay mobiyahe inig ka alas dos singkwenta.
G.
Joyce: Pila’y kinatibuk-ang bayranan nako ate?
Leah: Ang kinatibuk-ang bayranan kay dos syentos singkwenta pesos.
H.
Joyce: Mahimo ba nimo usbon na ate?
Leah: Ang kinatibuk-ang bayranan kay dos syentos singkwenta pesos.
I.
Joyce: Mahimo ba na isulat nimo dinhi ate?
Joyce: Nakuha nako imong gipasabot ate. Salamat kaayo.
Leah: Walay Sapayan.
English Version
A.
Joyce: Excuse me Ms. Is this the right air terminal for Japan?
Leah: Yes, this is it.
B.
Joyce: Excuse me Ms. Is this the right ferryboat for Bohol Island?
Leah: No, Ms. It’s at the next terminal.
C.
Joyce: Is this the right bus for Moalboal?
Leah: No, Ms. This bus is bound for Alcoy.
D.
Joyce: Excuse me Ms. What time does the airport shuttle bus leave?
Leah: The airport shuttle bus leaves at 2:50.
E.
Joyce: Excuse me Ms. Is this the right bus for Moalboal?
Leah: Yes, this is it.
F.
Joyce: What time does the bus for Moalboal leave?
Leah: The bus for Moalboal leaves at 2:50.
G.
Joyce: How much is the total?
Leah: The total is 250 PHP.
H.
Joyce: Could you repeat that?
Leah: The total is 250 PHP.
I.
Joyce: Could you please write it down here?
Joyce: I get what you meant. Thank you very much.
Leah: You’re welcome.
LESSON
Useful travel Phrases:
Mao ba ni ang hustong (A) para sa (B)?
Is this the right (A) for (B)?
For example:
Mao ba ni ang hustong bus para sa Moalboal?
Is this the right bus for Moalboal?
Unsang orasa mobiyahe ang (A) para sa(B)?
What time does the (A) for (B)leave?
For example:
Unsang orasa mobiyahe ang bus para sa Moalboal ate?
What time does the bus for Moalboal leave?
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
- How do you say ‘right’ in Cebuano?
a. isulat
b. pikas
c. usbon
d. husto - How do you answer the question ‘Mao ba ni ang hustong
bus para Moalboal?’ ?
a. Isulat dinhi.
b. O mao ni.
c. Dili ko ganahan
d. O mao ni akong balay. - How do you say ‘250php’ in Cebuano?
a. duha ka gatos
b. dos syentos singkwenta
c. usa ka libo
d. dos mil - How do you say ‘para sa’ in Cebuano?
a. for
b. in
c. on
d. by - How do you say ‘Is this..?’ in Cebuano?
a. Unsa ni…?
b. Ngano ka…?
c. Mao ba ni…?
d. Kanus-a …?
EXERCISE
Arrange the words to make sentences.
- hustong / ba / Moalboal / mao / ang / ni / sa / bus / para / ?
- sa / orasa / ang / unsang / Moalboal / para / mobiyahe / bus/ ?
- isulat / ba / dinhi / na / mahimo / nimo / ?
- terminal / bansang / ni / sa / mao / ang / para / Hapon / ba / hustong / ?
- bayranan / kinatibuk-ang / nako / pila’y / ?
REVIEW
Directions: Let’s use the pattern that you’ve learned during the lesson and make some sentences.
For example:
Mao ba ni ang hustong bus para sa Moalboal?
Is this the right bus for Moalboal?
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