CEBUANO LESSON 35 How to Ask Someone’s Age and Birthday in Cebuano

2021/9/24

When’s your birthday? How old will you be?
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask and answer questions about birthdays and age in Cebuano—a fun and useful topic for everyday conversations with friends.

👉 What you’ll learn in this video:

  • How to ask “How old will you be?” in Cebuano
  • Phrases for talking about birthdays and celebrations
  • Spanish-derived numbers commonly used for age
  • A real dialogue about birthdays you can practice with

Whether you’re studying Cebuano for daily life, friendship, or cultural connection, this video will help you use practical phrases that make conversations more natural and fun.

VOCABULARY

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Ngil-ad

Meaning

  • Ugly / Unpleasant / Disgusting

Part of Speech

  • Adjective

Situations Where It’s Used

  • To describe something or someone as unattractive or unpleasant.
  • Can refer to physical appearance, taste, smell, or even a bad situation.
  • Often casual, but can be offensive if used for people.

Example Sentences

  1. Ngil-ad kaayo ang lasa sa tambal.
    → “The medicine tastes very unpleasant.”
  2. Ngil-ad ang iyang batasan kung masuko siya.
    → “His attitude is ugly when he gets angry.”
  3. Ayaw pagtawag ug ngil-ad sa tawo.
    → “Don’t call a person ugly.”

Nasagmuyo

Meaning

  • Disappointed / discouraged / felt let down

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past / completed aspect, from sagmuyo = to be disappointed, with prefix na- = already happened)
  • Adjective (describing a state of being disappointed)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • When expressing feelings of frustration or discouragement.
  • Common in daily life, especially in emotional contexts (school, work, relationships).
  • Used to admit personal feelings or describe someone else’s mood.

Example Sentences

  1. Nasagmuyo siya sa resulta sa eksamen.
    → “He was disappointed with the exam result.”
  2. Nasagmuyo ko kay wala ka miuban.
    → “I felt let down because you didn’t come with me.”
  3. Daghan ang nasagmuyo sa desisyon sa kompanya.
    → “Many were disappointed with the company’s decision.”

Kasuko

Meaning

  • Anger / rage / the feeling of being angry

Part of Speech

  • Noun (formed from root suko = angry, with prefix ka- indicating a state or quality)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • When talking about the emotion of anger as a concept or condition.
  • Used in daily conversations, arguments, or when describing someone’s mood.
  • More formal or abstract than simply saying suko (angry).

Example Sentences

  1. Ang iyang kasuko klaro kaayo sa iyang nawong.
    → “His anger is very clear on his face.”
  2. Tungod sa kasuko, nilakaw siya ug kalit.
    → “Because of anger, he suddenly walked away.”
  3. Ang kasuko usahay makadaot sa relasyon.
    → “Anger can sometimes harm relationships.”

Kalma

Meaning

  • Calm / peaceful / relaxed

Part of Speech

  • Adjective (describing state of calmness)
  • Verb (to calm down — often used as command: Kalma lang! = “Calm down!”)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • To describe a person who is not stressed or angry.
  • To advise someone to relax or control emotions.
  • Also used for environments or situations (peaceful, not noisy).

Example Sentences

  1. Kalma lang, ayaw kasuko.
    → “Just calm down, don’t be angry.”
  2. Kalma kaayo ang dagat karon buntag.
    → “The sea is very calm this morning.”
  3. Nagpabilin siyang kalma bisan lisod ang sitwasyon.
    → “He remained calm even though the situation was difficult.”

Lain pa ato

Meaning

  • Something else / Another one / Different from that

Part of Speech

  • Phrase (adjective + particle)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • When suggesting an alternative.
  • When pointing out something different from what was first mentioned.
  • Common in conversations about choices (food, ideas, plans, etc.).

Example Sentences

  1. Dili ko ganahan ana, lain pa ato nalang.
    → “I don’t like that, let’s just get something else.”
  2. Kung wala nay stock, lain pa ato nga produkto.
    → “If there’s no stock, then another product instead.”
  3. Lain pa ato nga lugar ang atong adtuan ugma.
    → “We will go to a different place tomorrow.”

Nilabay

Meaning

  • Passed by / went by / elapsed
  • From the root labay = to pass, to throw, to go by.

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past / completed aspect, with prefix ni-)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • Talking about something or someone that has passed by.
  • Referring to time that has gone by.
  • Can be literal (a person passed) or figurative (time elapsed).

Example Sentences

  1. Nilabay siya sa among balay ganina.
    → “He passed by our house earlier.”
  2. Nilabay ang duha ka semana nga wala siya misulti.
    → “Two weeks passed without him saying anything.”
  3. Nilabay lang ko sa tindahan aron mopalit ug tubig.
    → “I just dropped by the store to buy water.”

Buwan

Meaning

  • Moon 🌙
  • Month (calendar month)

Part of Speech

  • Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

  • Referring to the moon in the sky.
  • Talking about time (months of the year, duration in months).
  • Very common in both everyday speech and formal contexts.

Example Sentences

  1. Hayag kaayo ang buwan karong gabii.
    → “The moon is very bright tonight.”
  2. Usa ka buwan siya nagpuyo sa Cebu.
    → “He stayed in Cebu for one month.”
  3. Unsang bulan ang imong birthday?
    → “In what month is your birthday?”

Gihunahuna

Meaning

  • Thought of / was thinking about / considered
  • From the root hunahuna = thought, mind, idea.

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past / completed aspect, with prefix gi- indicating passive or completed action)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • Talking about what someone was thinking, considering, or planning.
  • Can be about ideas, feelings, or decisions.
  • Common in both casual and serious conversations.

Example Sentences

  1. Gihunahuna nako nga molarga sa Manila.
    → “I thought about going to Manila.”
  2. Gihunahuna niya nga dili ka mouyon.
    → “He thought that you would not agree.”
  3. Unsa may imong gihunahuna ganina?
    → “What were you thinking earlier?”

Grabe

Meaning

  • Serious / severe
  • Extreme / intense (can be negative or positive depending on context)
  • Also used as an interjection, like “Wow!” or “Unbelievable!”

Part of Speech

  • Adjective
  • Interjection

Situations Where It’s Used

  • To describe something very intense (pain, situation, effort).
  • To emphasize surprise or amazement.
  • Very common in daily conversations, both serious and casual.

Example Sentences

  1. Grabe kaayo ang traffic karon buntag.
    → “The traffic is really terrible this morning.”
  2. Grabe iyang kasakit pagkahuman sa operasyon.
    → “His pain was severe after the operation.”
  3. Grabe, maayo kaayo ka mosayaw!
    → “Wow, you’re really good at dancing!”

Paghisgot

Meaning

  • Talking about / mentioning / discussion of
  • From the root hisgot = to mention, to talk about.

Part of Speech

  • Verb (infinitive / command form with prefix pag-)
  • Noun (the act of mentioning or discussing)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • When referring to the act of mentioning something in conversation.
  • Common in formal or semi-formal speech (meetings, lessons, discussions).
  • Can be used as a command (“paghisgot” = mention it / talk about it).

Example Sentences

  1. Dili siya ganahan sa paghisgot sa politika.
    → “He doesn’t like talking about politics.”
  2. Paghisgot sa imong plano aron masabtan namo.
    → “Talk about your plan so we can understand.”
  3. Ang paghisgot sa maong isyu importante kaayo sa miting.
    → “The discussion of that issue is very important in the meeting.”

Gipalagot

Meaning

  • Made (someone) angry / caused (someone’s) anger
  • From root lagot = anger, with prefix gi- (past/completed) + pa- (causative = “to make someone …”).

Part of Speech

  • Verb (past / completed, causative)

Situations Where It’s Used

  • When describing that someone was provoked or made angry by another person.
  • Common in emotional conversations, arguments, or storytelling.
  • Focus is on the action of causing anger.

Example Sentences

  1. Gipalagot siya sa iyang igsoon.
    → “He was made angry by his sibling.”
  2. Gipalagot ko sa iyang mga pulong.
    → “I got angry because of his words.”
  3. Ayaw siya gipalagota, kay init na kaayo iyang ulo.
    → “Don’t make him angry, because he’s already very irritated.”

Adlaw nga natawhan / Adlawng natawhan

Meaning

  • Birthday (literally “day of birth”).

Part of Speech

  • Noun phrase

Situations Where It’s Used

  • Referring to someone’s birthday.
  • Used in greetings, invitations, or when asking about a person’s birth date.
  • adlaw nga natawhan is the full form; adlawng natawhan is the contracted version (common in spoken Cebuano).

Example Sentences

  1. Kanus-a imong adlaw nga natawhan?
    → “When is your birthday?”
  2. Magselebrar siya sa iyang adlawng natawhan ugma.
    → “He will celebrate his birthday tomorrow.”
  3. Nalipay siya nga daghan ang miadto sa iyang adlaw nga natawhan.
    → “He was happy that many came to his birthday.”

FLASHCARDS

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Cebuano Dialogue

Joyce: Sa tinuod lang, ngil-ad akong igsoon.
Leah: Unsay nahitabo?
Joyce: Iyang giguba akong selpon. Nasagmuyo jud ko.
Leah: Hala! Ayaw kasuko! Kalma lang. Dili ra ba maayo nga masuko. Lain pa ato ba, dili ba imong adlawng natawhan kay ugma?
Joyce: O, adlawng natawhan nako ugma.
Leah: Pila na imong edad?
Joyce: Mobaynte dos na akong edad.
Leah: Congrats! Dali ra kay nilabay ang panahon.
Joyce: Lagi.
Leah: Mobaynte sais na akong edad. Sunod buwan akong adlawng natawhan. Lain pa ato ba, dili ba imong adlawng natawhan kay ugma?
Joyce: O, Adlawng natawhan nako ugma. Salamat (naglibog).
Leah: Pila na imong edad?
Joyce: Mobaynte dos na akong edad.
Leah: Congrats! Dali ra kay ni labay ang panahon.
Joyce: O, mao sad na akong gihunahuna.
Leah: Magbaynte sais na akong edad. Sunod buwan akong adlawng natawhan. Lain pa ato ba, dili ba imong adlawng natawhan kay ugma?
Joyce: Murag grabe rajud imong paghisgot sa akong adlawng natawhan, di ba? Adlawng natawhan lagi nako ugma! Kasabot ka?
Leah: Hala! Ayaw kasuko oi! Kalma gud. Dili ra ba maayo nga masuko.
Joyce: Gipalagot jud ko nimo!
Leah: Dili oi! Tinuod jud?
Joyce: (an amazing face)

English Translation

Joyce: Honestly, my brother is bad.
Leah: What happened?
Joyce: He broke my phone. I’m really disappointed.
Leah: Oh no! Don’t be mad! Calm down. It’s unhealthy to be angry. By the way, isn’t your birthday tomorrow?
Joyce: Yes, my birthday is tomorrow.
Leah: How old will you be?
Joyce: I will be 22 years old.
Leah: Congratulations! Time passed quickly.
Joyce: Yeah.
Leah: I will be 26 years old. My birthday is next month. By the way, isn’t your birthday tomorrow?
Joyce: Yeah, my birthday is tomorrow. Thank you. (in a bewildered manner)
Leah: How old will you be?
Joyce: I will be 22 years old.
Leah: Congratulations! Time passed quickly.
Joyce: Yeah, that’s what I thought too.
Leah: I will be 26 years old. My birthday is next month. By the way, isn’t your birthday tomorrow?
Joyce: I think you mention my birthday too much, right? My birthday is tomorrow! Do you understand? (A slightly angry expression.)
Leah: Oh no! Don’t be mad! Calm down. It’s unhealthy to be angry.
Joyce: You’re making me angry!
Leah: No way! Really?
Joyce: (an amazing face)

LESSON

There are different ways how to ask about someone’s age and birthday in Cebuano. In addition, we use the Spanish-derived numbers when telling our age and birth date.

⚫ Pila na imong edad?
How old will you be?

⚫ Mobaynte otso naman ka, di ba?
You will be 28, won’t you?

⚫ Pila’y edad nimo?
How old are you?
To ask about someone’s birthday in Cebuano, we say;

⚫ Kanus-a ang imong adlawng natawhan?
When is your birthday?

⚫ Dili ba imong adlawng natawhan kay ugma?
Isn’t your birthday tomorrow?

⚫ Kanus-a ka magsaulog sa imong adlawng natawhan?
When do you celebrate your birthday?

⚫ Kanus-a ka gipanganak?
When were you born?

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

  1. Are there two ways of saying numbers in Cebuano?

a. O
b. Dili
c. Wala
d. Ayaw

  1. How do you say ‘month’ in Cebuano?
    a. tuig
    b. kalma
    c. buwan
    d. adlaw
  2. How do you say ‘birthday’ in Cebuano?
    a. paghisgot
    b. adlawng natawhan
    c. lain pa ato
    d. gihunahuna
  3. How do you say ‘disappointed’ in Cebuano?
    a. nilabay
    b. gipalagot
    c. kasuko
    d. nasagmuyo
  4. Do you use the Spanish-derived numbers when telling
    someone’s age and birthday?
    a. O
    b. Dili
    c. Wala
    d. Ayaw

EXERCISE

Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.

  1. natawhan / ang / kanus-a / adlawng / imong / ?
  2. imong / pila / edad / na / ?
  3. imong / natawhan / ugma / dili / kay / adlawng / ba / ?
  4. otso / ka / , / ba / mobaynte / di / naman / ?
  5. magsaulog / natawhan / ka / imong / kanus-a / adlawng / sa / ?

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s do a role play.

T: Kanus-a ang imong adlawng natawhan?
S: _____.
T: Pila na imong edad?
S: ______.

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