CEBUANO LESSON #39 What Would You Do If You Won Big at a Casino? Cebuano Lesson

What would you do if you won big at a casino?
In this fun Cebuano lesson, we’ll use imagination and everyday situations to practice how to say “I want…” (Gusto ko …) in Cebuano.

👉 What you’ll learn in this video:

• How to express wants and desires in Cebuano
• Useful vocabulary like to win (makadaog), travel (mobiyahe), donate (idonar), and more
• A funny dialogue about fried chicken, laptops, traveling abroad, and even helping the poor
• Sentence patterns with Gusto ko… you can use in daily conversations

Whether you’re learning Cebuano for travel, fun, or connecting with friends, this lesson will give you practical expressions that you can use right away.

VOCABULARY

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Makadaog

Meaning

• Can win / able to win / might win
• From root daog = to win, with prefix maka- = ability or possibility.

Part of Speech

• Verb (potential / future aspect)

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about the possibility or ability to win a contest, game, or challenge.
• Common in sports, competitions, elections, or arguments.
• Can also be figurative (winning in life, success).

Example Sentences

1. Makadaog siya sa kompetisyon kung maningkamot siya.
   → “He can win the competition if he makes an effort.”
2. Dili makadaog ang team kung way praktis.
   → “The team can’t win without practice.”
3. Bisan kinsa makadaog basta patas ang duwa.
   → “Anyone can win as long as the game is fair.”

Daghan

Meaning

• Many / a lot / numerous

Part of Speech

• Adjective / Quantifier
• Noun (as “a large number”)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When describing quantity of people, things, or abstract ideas.
• Very common in everyday Cebuano for counting or emphasizing “many.”
• Can be used literally (many objects) or figuratively (many problems, much time).

Example Sentences

1. Daghan kog libro sa balay.
   → “I have many books at home.”
2. Daghan ang tawo sa plaza kagabii.
   → “There were a lot of people at the plaza last night.”
3. Daghan kaayo siyag problema karon.
   → “He has so many problems right now.”

Hangtod

Meaning

• Until / up to / as far as

Part of Speech

• Preposition / Conjunction

Situations Where It’s Used

• To show time duration (until a certain time).
• To show extent or limit (up to a certain place or degree).
• Very common in daily speech, school, church, and formal Cebuano.

Example Sentences

1. Maghulat ko hangtod alas diyes sa buntag.
   → “I will wait until 10 in the morning.”
2. Hangtod karon, wala gihapon siya misulti.
   → “Until now, he still hasn’t spoken.”
3. Lakaw lang derecho hangtod sa kanto.
   → “Just walk straight until the corner.”

Makapalipay

Meaning

• Can make (someone) happy / able to bring joy
• From root lipay = joy, happiness; with prefix maka- = ability/causative (can cause).

Part of Speech

• Verb (potential / causative)

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about something or someone that has the ability to bring happiness.
• Common in daily conversation, relationships, or when giving thanks.
• Often used in a positive, emotional context.

Example Sentences

1. Makapalipay ang imong regalo sa bata.
   → “Your gift can make the child happy.”
2. Makapalipay ang pagkita nato usab.
   → “Meeting each other again can bring joy.”
3. Makapalipay ang gamayng mga butang kung mahatagan ug bili.
   → “Small things can make us happy if we value them.”

Bag-o

Meaning

• New
• Recent

Part of Speech

• Adjective
• Adverb (when used as “recently / just now”)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When describing something new (object, idea, event).
• When talking about something that just happened.
• Very common in daily Cebuano, both in casual and formal settings.

Example Sentences

1. Bag-o nga cellphone iyang gipalit.
   → “He bought a new cellphone.”
2. Bag-o ra siya niabot gikan sa Manila.
   → “He just arrived from Manila.”
3. Nagkita mi sa akong bag-ong amigo sa eskwelahan.
   → “I met my new friend at school.”

Mobiyahe

Meaning

• Will travel / will take a trip
• From root biyahe (Spanish viaje = travel, trip), with prefix mo- = future/intentional action.

Part of Speech

• Verb (future / intention)

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about traveling for work, leisure, or errands.
• Common in everyday Cebuano when discussing plans to go somewhere far.
• Can refer to local trips or long-distance journeys.

Example Sentences

1. Mobiyahe mi paingon sa Cebu ugma buntag.
   → “We will travel to Cebu tomorrow morning.”
2. Kinsa ang mobiyahe padulong sa Manila karong semana?
   → “Who will travel to Manila this week?”
3. Dili siya mobiyahe kay walay kwarta.
   → “He won’t travel because he has no money.”

Alaot

Meaning

• Unfortunate / miserable / pitiful
• Can also mean ill-fated or doomed depending on context.

Part of Speech

• Adjective

Situations Where It’s Used

• When describing someone who is unlucky or living in hardship.
• Can be used in sympathy (poor thing) or harshly (wretched).
• Found in daily speech, storytelling, or emotional expressions.

Example Sentences

1. Alaot kaayo ang iyang kahimtang pagkahuman sa bagyo.
   → “His situation was very unfortunate after the typhoon.”
2. Alaot ang bata nga wala’y ginikanan.
   → “Pitiful is the child without parents.”
3. Alaot siya kay pirmi siya mapilde sa duwa.
   → “He is unfortunate because he always loses in the game.”

Kalibutan

Meaning

• World / earth
• Awareness / consciousness (secondary meaning, depending on context)

Part of Speech

• Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about the physical world or the planet.
• Referring to human life, society, or worldly matters.
• In figurative use: awareness or realization (walay kalibutan = has no idea / unaware).

Example Sentences

1. Daghang katawhan sa tibuok kalibutan.
   → “There are many people in the whole world.”
2. Ang kalibutan puno sa mga pagsulay ug kalipay.
   → “The world is full of trials and joys.”
3. Walay siya kalibutan sa nahitabo kagabii.
   → “He had no idea about what happened last night.”

Idonar

Meaning

• To donate / to give as a donation
• Borrowed from Spanish donar (to donate), with Cebuano prefix i- = causative “to make happen / to put into action.”

Part of Speech

• Verb (future / command form, object-focus)

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about giving money, goods, or services for charity, church, or public use.
• Common in formal contexts (fundraising, church, organizations).
• Also used in everyday conversation when referring to donations.

Example Sentences

1. Idonar nako ang akong libro sa librarya.
   → “I will donate my book to the library.”
2. Idonar sa kompanya ang pagkaon para sa mga biktima sa baha.
   → “The company will donate food for the flood victims.”
3. Unsa imong idonar sa simbahan karong Domingo?
   → “What will you donate to the church this Sunday?”

Kabus

Meaning

• Poor / needy / destitute

Part of Speech

• Adjective (describing condition of poverty)
• Noun (refers to poor people, the poor)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When describing someone who lacks money or resources.
• Common in social, economic, and everyday contexts.
• Can be neutral (descriptive) or sympathetic, depending on tone.

Example Sentences

1. Kabus kaayo ang pamilya nga nagpuyo sa bukid.
   → “The family living in the mountains is very poor.”
2. Gitabangan sa barangay ang mga kabus nga residente.
   → “The barangay helped the poor residents.”
3. Bisan kabus siya, malipayon gihapon siya sa kinabuhi.
   → “Even though he is poor, he is still happy in life.”

Nagpakabana

Meaning

• Showed concern / cared / paid attention
• From root kabana = concern, care; with prefix nag- = ongoing/past action, and paka- = causative (to show or make concern).

Part of Speech

• Verb (past / continuous aspect)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When someone actively showed care, interest, or concern for others.
• Common in community, family, or social situations.
• Can be used positively (caring) or negatively (meddling, depending on tone).

Example Sentences

1. Nagpakabana siya sa kahimtang sa mga kabus.
   → “He showed concern for the situation of the poor.”
2. Nagpakabana ang maestro sa kalisdanan sa iyang estudyante.
   → “The teacher cared about the struggles of his student.”
3. Wala siya nagpakabana sa problema sa iyang pamilya.
   → “He didn’t care about his family’s problem.”

Magdumot

Meaning

• Will bear a grudge / will hold resentment
• From root dumot = grudge, resentment; with prefix mag- = future or habitual action.

Part of Speech

• Verb (future / habitual aspect)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When talking about holding anger or resentment against someone.
• Common in personal relationships, conflicts, or moral/religious advice.
• Often used with a warning or advice not to hold grudges.

Example Sentences

1. Ayaw magdumot sa imong silingan.
   → “Don’t hold a grudge against your neighbor.”
2. Magdumot siya kung dili nimo siya pasayloon.
   → “He will bear a grudge if you don’t forgive him.”
3. Dili maayo ang tawo nga magdumot sa dugayng panahon.
   → “It’s not good for a person to hold grudges for a long time.”

Nakulangan

Meaning

• Lacked / was not enough / fell short
• From root kulang = lacking, insufficient; with prefix na- (already happened) + suffix -an (affected).

Part of Speech

• Verb (past / completed, passive-focus)
• Adjective (state of being lacking)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When something is not sufficient (money, food, time, resources).
• Very common in daily life, work, and school.
• Can also describe a person who fell short in effort or performance.

Example Sentences

1. Nakulangan siya ug kwarta para sa plite.
   → “He lacked money for the fare.”
2. Nakulangan mi sa pagkaon sa pista.
   → “We didn’t have enough food for the fiesta.”
3. Nakulangan siya sa puntos mao nga napildi siya.
   → “He fell short on points, that’s why he lost.”

Pahulma

Meaning

• To lend / to let someone borrow
• From root hulam = to borrow, with prefix pa- = causative (to let/allow).

Part of Speech

• Verb (future / command form, causative)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When giving something temporarily for someone else to use.
• Common in daily life (money, books, clothes, tools).
• Focus is on the person who lets others borrow.

Example Sentences

1. Pahulma kog libro kay wala koy kopya.
   → “Lend me a book because I don’t have a copy.”
2. Pahulma siya ug kwarta sa iyang amigo.
   → “He lent money to his friend.”
3. Kung pwede, pahulma sa imong payong kay nag-uwan.
   → “If possible, lend me your umbrella because it’s raining.”

Flashcards

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Cebuano Dialogue

Joyce: Kung makadaog ka og daghang kwarta sa kasino, unsa ang imong gustong buhaton?
Leah: Gusto ko mokaon og daghang pritong manok sa Jollibee hangtod dili na ako makakaon.
Joyce: Mao na ang makapalipay kanimo.
Joyce: Ug?
Leah: Ug? Gusto ko mopalit og bag-ong laptop.
Joyce: Mao na ang makapalipay kanimo.
Joyce: Ug?
Leah: Ug? Gusto ko nga mobiyahe sa gawas nasud.
Joyce: Mao na ang makapalipay kanimo.
Joyce: Ug?
Leah: Ug? ay… wala na ko’y laing mahunahunaan karon. Ikaw?
Joyce: Una, tungod daghan kaayo ang mga alaot nga mga tawo sa Cebu, gusto ko mopalit og pagkaon ug sinina alang kanila.
Joyce: Ikaduha, gusto ko hatagan ang akong mga ginikanan og kwarta ug mga tiket para sa pagbiyahe sa tibuok kalibutan isip timaan sa among pasalamat.
Joyce: Unya, gusto ko nga idonar ang nahabilin nga kwarta aron matabangan ang mga kabus nga mga bata sa tibuuk kalibutan.
Leah: Sige sige igo na. Ang imong mga tubag naghimo kanako nga murag usa ka tawo nga nagpakabana lamang sa iyang kaugalingon.
Joyce: Nakaamgo na jud ka nga ikaw nakasentro sa imong kaugalingon lamang?
Leah: Naa ba ko’y nabuhat nimo para magdumot ka nako?
Joyce: Kagahapon, sa dihang namalit ta ug nakulangan ko og singko pesos, wala man lang ko nimo pahulma og kwarta, diba?
Leah: Nasuko ka tungod sa gamay kaayo nga butang, bisan pa nag-ingon ka nga gusto nimong hatagan og pagkaon ang mga kabus nga bata.
Joyce: Unya, gusto ka moingun nga ako nakasentro sa akong kaugalingon?
Leah: Hay makalagot kaayo. Gusto na ko mouli.

English Translation

Joyce: If you won a lot of money in the casino, what would you like to do?
Leah: I want to eat a lot of fried chicken in Jollibee until I can’t eat anymore.
Joyce: That must make you happy.
Joyce: And?
Leah: And? I want to buy a new laptop.
Joyce: That must make you happy.
Joyce: And?
Leah: And? I want to travel abroad.
Joyce: That must make you happy.
Joyce: And?
Leah: And? well….I can’t think of anything else right now. How about you?
Joyce: First, since there are so many unfortunate people in Cebu, I want to buy food and clothing for them.
Joyce: Second, I want to give my parents money and tickets for traveling all over the world as a token of our gratitude.
Joyce: Then, I want to donate the remaining money to help underprivileged/poor children around the world.
Leah: Okay okay, that’s enough. Your answers make me sound like someone who only cares about himself. (The look of confusion)
Joyce: Have you finally realized that you’re self-centered?
Leah: Did I do something to cause you to hate me? (The look of confusion)
Joyce: Yesterday, when we were shopping and I was short 5 pesos, you didn’t lend me money, did you? (angry)
Leah: You are getting angry over something so small, even though you say that you want to give food to poor children. (surprised face)
Joyce: Then, do you want to tell me that I’m self-centered? (angry)
Leah: So annoying. I want to go home. (sighed, fed up)

LESSON

⚫ Gusto (verb)
V + S + O
For examples:
Gusto ko matawo pag-usab
I want to be reborn.

Gusto ko mohilak.
I want to cry.

Gusto ko molakaw.
I want to walk.

Gusto ko matulog.
I want to sleep.

Gusto ko makakita nimo.
I want to see you.

Gusto ko mokaon og daghang pritong manok sa Jollibee hangtod dili na ako makakaon.
I want to eat a lot of fried chicken in Jollibee until I can’t eat anymore.

Gusto ko mopalit og bag-ong laptop.
I want to buy a new laptop.

Gusto ko nga mobiyahe sa gawas nasud.
I want to travel abroad.

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

1. How do you say ‘unfortunate’ in Cebuano?
   a. idonar
   b. kabus
   c. alaot
   d. daghan
2. How do you say ‘to win’ in Cebuano?
   a. mobiyahe
   b. makapalipay
   c. magdumot
   d. makadaog
3. How do you say ‘want’ in Cebuano?
   a. molakaw
   b. gusto
   c. matulog
   d. mohilak
4. How do you say ‘ to hate someone’ in Cebuano?
   a. nakulangan
   b. bag-o
   c. magdumot
   d. kalibutan
5. How do you say ‘until’ in Cebuano?
   a. kabus
   b. idonar
   c. bag-o
   d. hangtod

EXERCISE

Direction: Arrange the words to make sentences.

1. makakita / gusto / nimo / ko
2. bag-ong / ko / laptop / gusto / og / mopalit
3. molakaw / ko / gusto
4. mobiyahe / ko / sa / nasud / gusto / nga / gawas
5. ko / matulog / gusto

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s use the pattern that you’ve learned during the lesson and make sentences.

For example:
Gusto ko mohilak.
I want to cry.

1. –
2. –
3. –