CEBUANO LESSON 36 Have You Gained a Little Weight? Cebuano Phrases About Looks and Weight

Have you gained a little weight? Or maybe someone told you, “You still look sexy!”
In this fun Cebuano lesson, you’ll learn how to talk about weight, looks, and appearance—a very real part of everyday conversations in the Philippines.

👉 What you’ll learn in this video:

• How to ask “How much do you weigh?” in Cebuano
• Common phrases for describing someone’s appearance
• Positive expressions like “You don’t look fat” or “You’re still sexy”
• A lighthearted dialogue about gaining weight and personality vs. looks

Whether you’re learning Cebuano for travel, daily life, or friendships, this lesson will help you sound more natural and confident in real conversations.

VOCABULARY

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Napun-an

Meaning

• Was filled up / added to / increased
• From the root pun-an = to add, to fill, to increase, with prefix na- (already happened / completed).

Part of Speech

• Verb (past / completed aspect, passive focus)

Situations Where It’s Used

• When something became full or was added with more.
• Can be used for physical things (containers, food) or abstract (workload, problems).
• Very common in daily conversations.

Example Sentences

1. Napun-an ang baso ug tubig.
   → “The glass was filled with water.”
2. Napun-an na pud akong trabaho karon adlaw.
   → “My work has increased again today.”
3. Napun-an ang problema tungod sa bag-ong isyu.
   → “The problem got worse because of the new issue.”

Timbang

Meaning

• Weight (measurement of heaviness)
• Balance (secondary meaning, depending on context)

Part of Speech

• Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

• When talking about body weight or the weight of objects.
• In markets when measuring goods.
• Figuratively, when talking about “balance” in life or decision-making.

Example Sentences

1. Unsa imong timbang karon?
   → “What is your weight now?”
2. Gisukod ang timbang sa isda sa merkado.
   → “The weight of the fish was measured at the market.”
3. Importante ang timbang sa trabaho ug pamilya.
   → “Balance between work and family is important.”

Tan-awon

Meaning

• Will look at / will watch / will see
• From the root tan-aw = to look, to watch, to see.

Part of Speech

• Verb (future / passive or object-focus form)

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about watching or checking something in the future.
• Very common when referring to TV, movies, or simply looking at an object or situation.
• Also used when “considering” or “checking” something.

Example Sentences

1. Tan-awon nako ang salida unya sa sinehan.
   → “I will watch the movie later at the cinema.”
2. Tan-awon nato ug unsay mahitabo.
   → “Let’s see what will happen.”
3. Tan-awon pa sa doktor ang resulta sa test.
   → “The doctor will still look at the test result.”

Medyo

Meaning

• Somewhat / a bit / rather / kind of

Part of Speech

• Adverb (modifier)

Situations Where It’s Used

• To soften a statement (not absolute, but partial).
• Very common in everyday conversation when describing degree.
• Similar to English “kind of” or “a little bit.”

Example Sentences

1. Medyo kapoy ko karon buntag.
   → “I’m a bit tired this morning.”
2. Medyo mahal ang presyo sa cellphone.
   → “The price of the cellphone is rather expensive.”
3. Medyo dugay siya miabot sa miting.
   → “He arrived somewhat late to the meeting.”

Tubag

Meaning

• Answer / response (noun)
• To answer / to reply (verb)

Part of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Situations Where It’s Used

• In school or exams (answering questions).
• In conversations (replying to someone).
• In formal and informal situations when a response is required.

Example Sentences

1. Wala siya’y tubag sa pangutana sa maestro.
   → “He had no answer to the teacher’s question.”
2. Tubag sa telepono kay nag-ring.
   → “Answer the phone because it’s ringing.”
3. Dali ra siya makahatag og tubag sa problema.
   → “He can easily give a solution/answer to the problem.”

Importante

Meaning

• Important / significant / essential

Part of Speech

• Adjective

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about things of high value, priority, or necessity.
• Used in school, work, family, and daily conversations.
• Can refer to events, people, objects, or abstract matters.

Example Sentences

1. Importante nga motabang ta sa usag usa.
   → “It is important that we help each other.”
2. Ang edukasyon importante para sa kalampusan.
   → “Education is important for success.”
3. Importante nga naa kay pasensya sa trabaho.
   → “It’s important that you have patience at work.”

Personalidad

Meaning

• Personality / character / individual identity

Part of Speech

• Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

• Talking about someone’s traits, behavior, or character.
• In psychology, self-development, or describing people in daily conversations.
• Can also mean public figure / celebrity (borrowed from Spanish/English usage).

Example Sentences

1. Nindot iyang personalidad, kay maayo siya ug batasan.
   → “She has a good personality because she has a nice character.”
2. Ang personalidad sa usa ka tawo magpakita sa iyang binuhatan.
   → “A person’s personality shows in his actions.”
3. Daghang personalidad ang mitambong sa okasyon.
   → “Many public figures attended the event.”

Panagway

Meaning

• Appearance / looks / facial expression
• Sometimes also means form / outward aspect.

Part of Speech

• Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

• When describing someone’s physical looks or appearance.
• In both casual and formal Cebuano, often referring to the face or general outward look.
• Can also be used figuratively for the “appearance” of a situation.

Example Sentences

1. Maayo kaayo ang iyang panagway.
   → “Her appearance is very good.”
2. Ang panagway sa balay karaan na kaayo.
   → “The appearance of the house is already very old.”
3. Dili makita sa iyang panagway nga nasuko siya.
   → “You can’t see in his appearance that he is angry.”

Bahin

Meaning

• Part / portion / share
• About / regarding (when used as a preposition).

Part of Speech

• Noun
• Preposition

Situations Where It’s Used

• When talking about a piece or portion of something (food, money, task).
• In conversations to mean “about/regarding” a topic.
• Very common in both everyday and formal Cebuano.

Example Sentences

1. Tagaan tika sa imong bahin sa pagkaon.
   → “I’ll give you your share of the food.”
2. Unsay imong bahin sa proyekto?
   → “What is your part in the project?”
3. Naghisgot sila bahin sa politika.
   → “They talked about politics.”

Kilo

Meaning

• Kilo / kilogram (unit of weight)

Part of Speech

• Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

• When buying or weighing goods in the market.
• Talking about body weight or measurement in kilograms.
• Common in daily Cebuano, especially in trade and food shopping.

Example Sentences

1. Palita kog usa ka kilo nga bugas.
   → “Buy me one kilo of rice.”
2. Pila ang kilo sa baboy karon?
   → “How much is a kilo of pork today?”
3. Nidugang og lima ka kilo ang akong timbang.
   → “My weight increased by five kilos.”

Tambok

Meaning

• Fat (adjective, describing a person, animal, or thing)
• Fat / grease (noun, substance from meat or food)

Part of Speech

• Adjective
• Noun

Situations Where It’s Used

• Describing a person or animal as physically fat.
• Referring to fatty parts of food (meat, oil, grease).
• Common in daily conversation about body shape, food, or cooking.

Example Sentences

1. Tambok kaayo ang iring sa among silingan.
   → “The neighbor’s cat is very fat.”
2. Ayaw kaayo kaon ug tambok sa baboy.
   → “Don’t eat too much pork fat.”
3. Nidako siya ug tambok human sa holiday.
   → “He gained fat after the holiday.”

Seksi

Meaning

• Sexy / attractive (physically appealing, usually referring to body shape or appearance).

Part of Speech

• Adjective

Situations Where It’s Used

• When describing someone as physically attractive.
• Common in casual speech, media, or compliments.
• Can be positive (attractive) or inappropriate depending on context.

Example Sentences

1. Seksi kaayo siya sa iyang sinina.
   → “She looks very sexy in her dress.”
2. Daghang modelo nga seksi ang makita sa magazine.
   → “Many sexy models can be seen in the magazine.”
3. Gituohan nila nga seksi siya tungod sa iyang lawas.
   → “They think she is sexy because of her figure.”

Flashcards

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

承知しました！セブアノ語と英語を分けて整理しました。

Cebuano Dialogue

Jen: Napun-an jud pag-ayo akong timbang kay dili man ko kagawas tungod sa koronavirus.
Leah: Pila ka kilo ang napuno nimo?
Jen: Napun-an ko og lima ka kilo.
Leah: Dili ra man ka tambok tan-awon. Seksi raman gihapon ka.
Jen: Maoba? Salamat. Ikaw?
Leah: Paminaw nimo pila ka kilo ang napuno nako?
Jen: Mga tulo ka kilo?
Leah: Medyo tambok.
Jen: Mga lima ka kilo?
Leah: Medyo tambok tambok.
Jen: Mga pito ka kilo?
Leah: Medyo tambok pa jud.
Jen: Tinuod? Mga napulo ka kilo?
Leah: Kana na ba ang imong katapusang tubag?
Jen: hmm hmm, kadyot sa.
(a few seconds)
Jen: Okay, Napulo ka kilo, di ba?
Leah: Kana na ba ang imong katapusang tubag?
Jen: O. Kini ang akong katapusang tubag.
Leah: Kabalo ka? Dili importante kung pila imong timbang, dili kana ang hinungdanon sa kinabuhi.
Jen: Ha?
Leah: Ang personalidad mao ang mas importante kaysa panagway.
Jen: Ha? Gipangutana ra ko nimo bahin sa imong gibug-aton…. mao ako rang gitubag.
Leah: Kabalo ka? Ayaw pangutana sa gibug-aton sa usa ka babaye.
Jen: Ay ambot.

English Translation

Jen: I’ve gained a lot of weight because I can’t go out due to the coronavirus.
Leah: How many kilos did you put on?
Jen: I’ve gained five kilos.
Leah: You don’t look fat at all. You are still sexy.
Jen: Really? Thanks. How about you?
Leah: How many kilos do you think I gained?
Jen: Around 3 kilos?
Leah: A little fatter…
Jen: Around 5 kilos?
Leah: A little fatter…
Jen: Around 7 kilos?
Leah: A little fatter…
Jen: Really? Around 10 kilos?
Leah: Is that your final answer?
Jen: Umm… Just a second.
(a few seconds)
Jen: Okay! 10 kilos, right?
Leah: Is that your final answer?
Jen: Yes. This is my final answer.
Leah: You know what? It doesn’t matter how many pounds you weigh, that’s not what matters in life.
Jen: Huh?
Leah: Personality is more important than looks.
Jen: Huh? You just asked me about your weight… so I just answered.
Leah: Do you know? Don’t ask a woman’s weight.
Jen: Whatever.

LESSON

When asking someone’s weight, we say;

⚫ Pila ka kilo ang napuno nimo?
How many kilos did you put on?

⚫ Pila imong timbang?
How much do you weigh?

To answer the question;
⚫ Napun-an ko og lima ka kilo.
I’ve gained five kilos.

⚫ Mga tulo ka kilo?
Around 3 kilos?

To describe someone’s appearance, we say;
Adjective + S
Seksi raman gihapon ka.
You are still sexy.
Medyo tambok ka.
You’re a little fatter.
Gwapa kaayo ka.
You’re so beautiful.

Dili + S + Adj.
Dili ra man ka tambok tan-awon.
You don’t look fat at all.
Dili siya seksi.
She isn’t sexy.

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

1. How do you say ‘personality’ in Cebuano?
   a. tambok
   b. timbang
   c. personalidad
   d. importante
2. How do you say ‘weight’ in Cebuano?
   a. tambok
   b. timbang
   c. personalidad
   d. importante
3. How do you say ‘You’re so beautiful.’ in Cebuano?
   a. Medyo tambok ka.
   b. Gwapo kaayo ka.
   c. Seksi kaayo ka.
   d. Gwapa kaayo ka.
4. How do you say ‘appearance’ in Cebuano?
   a. gwapa
   b. tubag
   c.importante
   d. panagway
5. How do you say ‘gained’ in Cebuano?
   a. napun-an
   b. medyo
   c. bahin
   d. seksi

EXERCISE

Arrange the words to make sentences.

1. napuno / ka / pila / nimo / ang / kilo / ?
2. kilo / ko / lima / og / napun-an / ka
3. gihapon / seksi / ka / raman
4. dili / ka / man / tan-awon / ra / tambok
5. imong / timbang / pila / ?

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s do a role play.

Teacher: Pila imong timbang?
Student: __.
Teacher: Dili ra man ka _ tan-awon. _ raman

gihapon ka.
Student: __.