CEBUANO LESSON #48 Learn Cebuano: How to Use the Prefix “Gipa” (Causative Verbs Explained)

2022/4/12

Learn Cebuano step by step!
In this lesson, you will learn how to use the Cebuano prefix “gipa–” to express that someone was told to do something or has done something because of another person’s command.

You will discover:
✔️ What gipa– means in Cebuano grammar
✔️ How to form sentences with gipa– in daily conversations
✔️ Examples in present and past tense
✔️ Useful vocabulary and dialogue practice

Examples from this lesson:
✨ Ako ng gipauli kay gitawagan siya sa iyang mama – I told her to go home because her mom called.
✨ Gipasakay pa niya si Mae og traysikol – She took Mae to ride a tricycle.
✨ Milagro gani gipalaag ka karon – It’s a miracle you were allowed to go out today.

This video is perfect for:
✔️ Beginners learning Cebuano / Bisaya grammar
✔️ Students who want to understand causative verbs in Cebuano
✔️ Anyone interested in everyday Cebuano expressions

VOCABULARY

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Nabusog

Meaning

  • Nabusog = “full” / “satisfied from eating” / “already had enough food.”

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past/perfective aspect, from root busog = full/satiated).
  • Functions like an adjective in everyday speech.

Usage / Context

  • Used after eating to express that one has eaten enough and feels full.
  • Very common in daily Cebuano conversation around meals.

Example Sentences

  1. Nabusog ko sa pagkaon nga imong giandam.
    → I am full from the food you prepared.
  2. Nalipay siya kay nabusog ang tanan.
    → He/She was happy because everyone was full.
  3. Dali ra siya nabusog.
    → He/She gets full easily.

Amiga

Meaning

  • Amiga = “female friend.”

Part of Speech

  • Noun (borrowed from Spanish amiga = female friend; amigo = male friend).

Usage / Context

  • Used to refer to a close female friend.
  • Still common in Cebuano, especially in casual or friendly conversation.
  • Male counterpart: amigo = male friend.

Example Sentences

  1. Si Maria akong amiga.
    → Maria is my (female) friend.
  2. Nagkita mi sa akong mga amiga sa merkado.
    → I met my female friends at the market.
  3. Amiga nako siya sukad pa sa pagkabata.
    → She has been my friend since childhood.

Traysikol

Meaning

  • Traysikol = “tricycle” (a common public utility vehicle in the Philippines: motorcycle with a sidecar).

Part of Speech

  • Noun (borrowed from English tricycle, adapted to local spelling).

Usage / Context

  • Refers to a motorized tricycle used for public transportation, especially for short distances in towns and barangays.
  • Very common in Cebuano daily life for commuting.

Example Sentences

  1. Mosakay ta og traysikol padulong sa merkado.
    → Let’s ride a tricycle going to the market.
  2. Daghang traysikol sa terminal.
    → There are many tricycles at the terminal.
  3. Mas barato ang traysikol kaysa taxi.
    → The tricycle is cheaper than a taxi.

Nangahubog

Meaning

  • Nangahubog = “got drunk” / “became drunk (plural/collective).”

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past/perfective aspect, from root hubog = drunk).

Usage / Context

  • Used when several people (not just one) became drunk, often after drinking alcohol.
  • Prefix nang- gives the sense of plural action or “many did it.”
  • Very common in storytelling, parties, or casual conversations.

Example Sentences

  1. Nangahubog sila sa pista kagabii.
    → They got drunk at the fiesta last night.
  2. Daghan ang nangahubog sa kasal.
    → Many became drunk at the wedding.
  3. Nangahubog ang mga lalaki human sa inuman.
    → The men got drunk after the drinking session.

Milagro

Meaning

  • Milagro = “miracle.”

Part of Speech

  • Noun (borrowed from Spanish milagro = miracle).

Usage / Context

  • Refers to a supernatural event, extraordinary happening, or something unbelievable.
  • Used in religious contexts (miracles of God/saints) as well as everyday speech for something amazing or unexpected.

Example Sentences

  1. Milagro nga nabuhi siya human sa aksidente.
    → It’s a miracle that he/she survived after the accident.
  2. Nituo sila sa mga milagro sa Ginoo.
    → They believed in the miracles of God.
  3. Milagro nga nakaabot siya sa oras.
    → It’s a miracle that he/she arrived on time.

Gipugos

Meaning

  • Gipugos = “forced” / “compelled” / “was made to do something.”

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past/perfective passive form, from root pugos = to force).

Usage / Context

  • Used when someone is obliged or pressured to do something against their will.
  • Very common in daily Cebuano when describing unwanted actions or obligations.

Example Sentences

  1. Gipugos siya sa iyang ginikanan nga moskwela.
    → He/She was forced by his/her parents to study.
  2. Gipugos nako siya og kaon.
    → I forced him/her to eat.
  3. Gipugos siya nga mouli bisan gabii pa.
    → He/She was compelled to go home even though it was already night.

Plato

Meaning

  • Plato = “plate.”

Part of Speech

  • Noun (borrowed from Spanish plato = plate).

Usage / Context

  • Refers to a dish/plate used for eating.
  • Very common in households, restaurants, and daily conversation.

Example Sentences

  1. Ibutang ang pagkaon sa plato.
    → Put the food on the plate.
  2. Naay daghang plato sa lamisa.
    → There are many plates on the table.
  3. Wala koy plato para sa sud-an.
    → I don’t have a plate for the viand.

Nilabhan

Meaning

  • Nilabhan = “was washed” / “already washed.”

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past/perfective passive form, from root laba = to wash clothes).

Usage / Context

  • Commonly used when referring to clothes or laundry that have been washed.
  • Often heard in households, laundry contexts, or daily chores.

Example Sentences

  1. Nilabhan na ang mga sanina.
    → The clothes have already been washed.
  2. Kinsa ang nilabhan sa mga habol?
    → Who washed the blankets?
  3. Nilabhan sa katabang ang uniform sa bata.
    → The helper washed the child’s uniform.

Importante

Meaning

  • Importante = “important.”

Part of Speech

  • Adjective (borrowed from Spanish importante).

Usage / Context

  • Used to describe something that has value, necessity, or significance.
  • Very common in daily conversation, school, business, and formal settings.

Example Sentences

  1. Importante ang edukasyon para sa kabataan.
    → Education is important for the youth.
  2. Dili importante ang bayhon kung walay resibo.
    → The payment is not important if there is no receipt.
  3. Importante nga magsugod ta og sayo.
    → It’s important that we start early.

Kahibaw baya ka!

Meaning

  • Kahibaw baya ka! = “You know (already)!” / “Of course you know!”

Part of Speech

  • Phrase (with verb + particle + pronoun).
    • kahibaw = know / be aware
    • baya = particle meaning “you know / indeed / after all” (adds emphasis)
    • ka = you

Usage / Context

  • Used to remind someone that they already know something.
  • Can express emphasis, mild scolding, or friendly reminder depending on tone.
  • Common in casual spoken Cebuano.

Example Sentences

  1. Kahibaw baya ka nga sayo ta magsugod.
    → You know very well that we will start early.
  2. Ayaw pangutana, kahibaw baya ka sa tubag.
    → Don’t ask, you already know the answer.
  3. Kahibaw baya ka nga dili na maayo.
    → You know that it’s not good anymore.

Flashcards

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Situation: They are invited to Joyce’s birthday celebration.

Cebuano

Joyce: Leah, nabusog ra ka?
Leah: O, nabusog ra ko oi. Salamat kaayo.
Leah: Asa naman imong amega?
Joyce: Ako ng gipauli kay gitawagan naman siya sa iyang mama gud. Si Sheena asa man?
Leah: Naa didto ay. Gipasakay pa niya si Mae og traysikol.
Joyce: Aw, okay ra to sila?
Leah: Okay raman. Wala man gud mi nangahubog. Wala nakatandog oi.
Joyce: Weeeh! Tug-an tika sa imong mama ha!
Leah: Boang! Ayaw oi! Makasuk-an na jud ko ani. Kahibaw baya kang mama ha.
Joyce: Lagi, milagro gani gipalaag ka karon.
Leah: O kay ako man gipugos gud. Mao sad lagi gipahugas ko’g plato daan ug gipahahay sa mga nilabhan.
Joyce: Importante oi nakalaag ka karon.

English

Joyce: Leah, are you already full?
Leah: Yeah, I’m full. Thank you so much.
Leah: Where is your friend?
Joyce: I told her to go back home because her mother has already called her. Where is Sheena?
Leah: She is over there. She took Mae to ride a tricycle.
Joyce: I see, are they okay?
Leah: They are okay. We aren’t drunk. It didn’t hit us.
Joyce: Oooh! I’ll tell your mom then!
Leah: Crazy! No way! I will be scolded. You already know about my mother.
Joyce: Yeah, it’s a miracle that you can go out now.
Leah: Yes because I really asked (forced) her. But she let me wash the plates and hang the washed clothes.
Joyce: It’s important that you can go out now.

LESSON

GIPA
It denotes that one was told to do something, or one has done something after following the command or wish of another. The action done or is being done is indicated by the root verb. This prefix is used both in present and in past tenses.

For examples:
◆ gipa + uli = gipauli (is/was told to go home)
Ako ng gipauli kay gitawagan naman siya sa iyang mama.
I told her to go back home because her mother has already called her.
◆ gipa + sakay = gipasakay (is/was told to take a ride)
Gipasakay pa niya si Mae
She took Mae to take/ride a tricycle/jeepney.
◆ gipa + laag = gipalaag (is/was told to go somewhere)
Milagro gani gipalaag ka karon.
It’s a miracle that you can go out now.
◆ gipa + hugas = gipahugas (is/was told to wash the dishes)
◆ gipa + hayhay = gipahayhay (is/was told to hang the clothes)

Mao sad lagi gipahugas kog plato daan ug gipahahay sa mga nilabhan.
But she let me washed the dishes first and hanged the washed clothes.

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

  1. What is ‘gipa’?
    a. preposition
    b. causative prefix
    c. verb
    d. noun
  2. Can ‘gipa’ be used in the future tense?
    a. O
    b. Dili
    c. Wala
    d. Ayaw
  3. What does ‘gipa+uli” mean?
    a. is/was told to take a ride
    b. is/was told to go home
    c. is/was told to hang the clothes
    d. is/was told to go with you
  4. Translate the sentence “Gipasakay pa niya si Mae og dyip”.
    a. She took Mae to ride a jeepney.
    b. I told her to go back home.
    c. It’s a miracle that you can go out now.
    d. She let me washed the dishes.
  5. How do you say “washed clothes’ in Cebuano?
    a. plato
    b. nakalaag
    c. gipugos
    d. nilabhan

EXERCISE

Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.

  1. si / pa / Mae / gipasakay / niya
  2. gipahayhay / gipahugas / sa / sad / mga / plato / mao / daan / lagi / ug / ko’g / nilabhan
  3. siya / kay / mama / ako / gitawagan / ng / iyang / gipauli / sa / naman
  4. gipalaag / karon / milagro / ka / gani
  5. imong / asa / amega / naman / ?

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s use the prefix ”gipa” that you’ve learned during the lesson and make some sentences.

For example:
Ako ng gipauli kay gitawagan naman siya sa iyang mama.
I told her to go back home because her mother has already called her.

  1. –
  2. –
  3. –

Comment

Copied title and URL