Learn Cebuano step by step!
In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate the Cebuano verb “lakaw” (to walk) in the present, past, and future tenses.
We also practice everyday Cebuano conversations where lakaw is commonly used.
You will learn:
✔️ Naglakaw – walking / to walk
✔️ Nilakaw / Milakaw – walked
✔️ Molakaw – will walk
This lesson is perfect for:
✔️ Beginners learning Cebuano / Bisaya grammar
✔️ Travelers who want to practice everyday Cebuano
✔️ Anyone interested in Cebuano verbs and daily life expressions
By the end of this video, you’ll be able to say sentences like:
✨ Naglakaw sila Kyle ug Jay dapit sa Gaisano (Kyle and Jay are walking somewhere in Gaisano)
✨ Nilakaw akong mga higala paingon sa eskwelahan (My friends walked to school)
✨ Molakaw ako paingon sa bukid karong hapon (I will walk to the mountain this afternoon)
VOCABULARY
Naglagot
Meaning
- Naglagot = “angry” / “mad” / “annoyed.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (progressive aspect, from lagot = anger).
- Often functions like an adjective in casual speech.
Usage / Context
- Used when someone is currently feeling angry or irritated.
- Very common in everyday conversation when expressing frustration, annoyance, or rage.
Example Sentences
- Naglagot siya kay wala gituman ang sabot.
→ He/She is angry because the agreement was not followed. - Ngano nga naglagot ka nako?
→ Why are you mad at me? - Naglagot ko sa traffic ganiha.
→ I got angry at the traffic earlier.
Nasuko
Meaning
- Nasuko = “angry” / “got mad.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (past/perfective aspect, from suko = anger).
- Can also function like an adjective to describe someone’s state.
Usage / Context
- Used when someone already got angry or is in a state of anger.
- Slightly more formal or neutral compared to naglagot, which often carries a stronger sense of irritation or frustration.
Example Sentences
- Nasuko siya kay wala nimo gi-text.
→ He/She got angry because you didn’t text. - Ngano nasuko man imong mama?
→ Why is your mother angry? - Nasuko ang maestro sa mga estudyante.
→ The teacher was mad at the students.
Ate
Meaning
- Ate = “older sister” / respectful way to address an older female (not only sibling).
Part of Speech
- Noun / honorific title.
Usage / Context
- Used to address one’s older sister in the family.
- Also commonly used as a polite/respectful form of address for any older female, even outside the family (like a cousin, neighbor, or friend’s sister).
- Similar to Japanese 「お姉さん」 or English “big sis / Miss (older female).”
Example Sentences
- Asa si Ate Maria?
→ Where is (older sister) Maria? - Salamat, Ate, sa tabang.
→ Thank you, Ate, for the help. - Ate nako siya pero mura ra og amiga.
→ She is my older sister, but she’s just like a friend.
Pakuyoga
Meaning
- Pakuyoga = “Please let (someone) go along / accompany.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (imperative/causative form, from kuyog = to accompany, with prefix pa- = causative + suffix -a = command/imperative).
Usage / Context
- Used as a request or instruction to allow or take someone along.
- Commonly heard in families, among friends, or in casual conversation.
- Polite, but still casual — often said when asking permission to join.
Example Sentences
- Pakuyoga ko sa mall.
→ Please let me go with you to the mall. - Pakuyoga si Jun sa inyong duwa.
→ Let Jun join your game. - Pakuyoga ko ugma sa eskwelahan.
→ Please take me along to school tomorrow.
Nadedma
Meaning
- Nadedma = “ignored” / “disregarded” / “taken for granted.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (past/perfective, often used like an adjective).
- Derived from Tagalog slang “deadma” (from English “dead malice” → meaning to ignore).
Usage / Context
- Widely used in both Tagalog and Cebuano conversations.
- Describes a situation where someone or something was not given attention or was disregarded.
- Often carries a slightly casual, humorous, or lighthearted tone.
Example Sentences
- Nadedma ang iyang mensahe.
→ Her/His message was ignored. - Nadedma ko sa akong mga amigo.
→ I was ignored by my friends. - Nadedma ra ang iyang joke.
→ His/Her joke was just ignored.
Pagkaon
Meaning
- Pagkaon = “food” / “the act of eating.”
Part of Speech
Usage / Context
- Most commonly used to mean food in general.
- Can also mean the act of eating depending on context.
- Very common in daily conversation, especially when talking about meals, health, or shopping.
Example Sentences
- Lami ang pagkaon sa fiesta.
→ The food at the fiesta is delicious. - Walay pagkaon sa lamisa.
→ There is no food on the table. - Ang sobra nga pagkaon among gihatag sa silingan.
→ We gave the leftover food to the neighbor.
Diri
Meaning
- Diri = “here” / “in this place.”
Part of Speech
- Adverb (of place).
Usage / Context
- Used to point out or indicate the current location of the speaker or the place being referred to.
- Very common in everyday Cebuano conversation.
- Opposite of didto = “there (far).”
Example Sentences
- Diri ko nagpuyo.
→ I live here. - Diri ta magkita unya.
→ Let’s meet here later. - Walay signal diri sa bukid.
→ There is no signal here in the mountains.
Ehersisyo
Meaning
- Ehersisyo = “exercise.”
Part of Speech
- Noun (borrowed from Spanish ejercicio).
Usage / Context
- Refers to physical exercise (e.g., jogging, stretching, working out) or, in formal/academic contexts, practice or drill (e.g., exercises in a book).
- Very common in daily conversation when talking about health, sports, or fitness.
Example Sentences
- Importante ang ehersisyo para sa lawas.
→ Exercise is important for the body. - Nagbuhat siya og ehersisyo matag buntag.
→ He/She does exercise every morning. - Naay daghang ehersisyo sa libro sa Ingles.
→ There are many exercises in the English book.
Flashcards
DIALOGUE PRACTICE
Direction: Read the dialogue with your teacher.
Cebuano
Jen: Leah, ngano diay to si Cassy? Mura lagi siya og naglagot o nasuko ba.
Leah: Nakit-an niya iyang mama ug ate sa may tiangi unya wala siya pakuyoga nila.
Jen: Aw mao di ay! Unya asa man siya paingon? Molakaw ra siya og iyaha sad?
Leah: Ambot lang sad kay wala man nitingog nako pagpangutana. Nilakaw ra jud siya og diretso.
Jen: Hahaha nadedma diay ka. Unya asa man sad ka paingon?
Leah: Mopalit didto og pagkaon.
Joyce: Aw. Naglakaw ra ka paingon diri?
Leah: O naglakaw ra aron ehersisyo sad ba.
English
Jen: Leah, what happened to Cassy? She seems angry or upset?
Leah: She found her mother and sister somewhere in the market and then she wasn’t invited to go with them.
Jen: Ah I see! Then, where is she going? She will walk by herself then?
Leah: I don’t know because she didn’t say anything to me when I asked her. She just walked straight.
Jen: Hahaha you were ignored then. Then, where are you going?
Leah: Yeah! I will buy food there.
Joyce: I see. Did you walk coming here?
Leah: Yes, I walk to exercise.
LESSON
The word “lakaw” means to walk in English. Now, let’s learn how to conjugate the verb “lakaw”.
| Tense | Cebuano Form | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present Tense | naglakaw | to walk / walking |
| Past Tense | nilakaw / milakaw | walked |
| Future Tense | molakaw | will walk |
(As you noticed, the word ‘lakaw’ did not change but the prefixes did. The prefix ‘nag’ conveys the current situation. The prefix ‘ni/mi’ conveys something that already happened in the past. And lastly, the prefix ‘mo’ conveys something that will happen in the future.
Well, these are the common prefixes. However, we don’t use these prefixes for all verbs in Cebuano. You’ll still have to know more about the conjugation and the prefixes of Cebuano verbs and how it uses.)
For examples:
- Naglakaw sila Kyle ug Jay dapit sa Gaisano.
Kyle and Jay are walking somewhere in Gaisano. - Ang akong mga higala nilakaw paingon sa eskwelahan.
My friends walked to school. - Molakaw ako paingon sa bukid karong hapon.
I will walk to the mountain this afternoon.
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
- How do we say ‘angry’ in Cebuano?
a. nalipay
b. nasuko
c. nalimot
d. nagguol - How do we say ‘ignored’ in Cebuano?
a. pagkaon
b. naglagot
c. nalimot
d. nadedma - Does the prefix ‘nag’ conveys the current situation?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Maybe
d. None of the above - Did the word ‘lakaw’ change when you add prefixes?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Maybe
d. None of the above
5. Conjugate the word ‘lakaw.
REVIEW
Direction: Let’s use the Cebuano verb ‘lakaw’ that you’ve learned during the lesson and make some sentences with the correct usage of tenses (prefixes).
For example:
Molakaw ako paingon sa bukid karong hapon.
I will walk to the mountain this afternoon.
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