Learn Cebuano easily with this practical lesson!
In this video, you will discover what to say in Cebuano when visiting someone’s house.
We will practice common greetings, courtesy phrases, and cultural expressions that are important in everyday conversations.
You will learn useful Cebuano phrases such as:
✔️ Maayong udto – Good noon/afternoon
✔️ Pabless ko – A respectful greeting to elders
✔️ Pasensya sa abala – Sorry for troubling you
✔️ Salamat sa pag-imbita kanako – Thank you for inviting me
✔️ Sunod puhon nasad – See you again next time
This lesson is perfect for:
✔️ Beginners who want to learn Cebuano / Bisaya step by step
✔️ Travelers visiting the Philippines and staying with friends or family
✔️ Anyone interested in Cebuano culture and polite expressions
By the end of this video, you’ll know exactly what to say when you greet, thank, and say goodbye while visiting a Cebuano home.
VOCABULARY
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Dali
Meaning
- Dali = “quick” / “fast” / “hurry.”
Part of Speech
- Adjective or adverb.
- Can also be used as an interjection (“Hurry up!”).
Usage / Context
- Used to describe something that happens quickly (fast, not slow).
- As a command or expression, it means “Hurry!”
- Very common in everyday Cebuano conversation.
Example Sentences
- Dali ra ang iyang trabaho.
→ His/Her work is quick. - Pagdali, malangan ta!
→ Hurry up, we will be late! - Dali siya makakat-on og mga pulong.
→ He/She learns words quickly.
Udto
Meaning
- Udto = “noon” / “midday.”
Part of Speech
- Noun / adverb of time.
Usage / Context
- Refers to the middle of the day (around 12:00 p.m.).
- Commonly used when talking about time of meals (paniudto = lunch) or scheduling activities.
- Equivalent to English “noon” or “midday.”
Example Sentences
- Magkita ta ugma sa udto.
→ Let’s meet tomorrow at noon. - Init kaayo ang adlaw basta udto.
→ The sun is very hot at midday. - Human sa udto, moadto ko sa eskwelahan.
→ After noon, I will go to school.
Te (Ate)
Meaning
- Te = shortened form of Ate = “older sister” / “respectful way to address an older female.”
Part of Speech
- Noun / honorific title.
Usage / Context
- Common in informal, spoken Cebuano/Tagalog as a quick way of calling or addressing an older female (sister, cousin, neighbor, or even a stranger, politely).
- Equivalent to Japanese 「ねえちゃん / お姉さん」, English “sis / Miss (older girl/woman).”
- Used more casually than Ate.
Example Sentences
- Te, asa ka moadto?
→ Sis, where are you going? - Salamat, Te, sa imong tabang.
→ Thanks, Te, for your help. - Te, palit kog isa ka tinapay.
→ Sis, please buy me a piece of bread.
Sad
Meaning
- Sad = “also / too / as well.”
Part of Speech
- Adverb (borrowed from English “sad,” but in Cebuano/Tagalog it has a completely different meaning).
Usage / Context
- Commonly added after a word or phrase to mean “also / too.”
- Very frequent in casual speech and friendly conversations.
- Equivalent to Cebuano usab or pod.
Example Sentences
- Gusto ko mokaon og isda, gusto sad ko og utan.
→ I want to eat fish, I also want vegetables. - Moadto ko sa merkado, moadto sad siya.
→ I will go to the market, and he/she will go too. - Salamat sad sa imong tabang.
→ Thanks also for your help.
Lingkud
Meaning
- Lingkud = “to sit.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (root form).
Usage / Context
- Used when telling someone to sit down or describing the action of sitting.
- Very common in daily life (home, school, gatherings).
- Often appears as lingkod (variant spelling, more standard).
Example Sentences
- Lingkud diri palihog.
→ Please sit here. - Nalingkod siya sa bangko.
→ He/She sat on the bench. - Maglingkod ta una, kapoy kaayo.
→ Let’s sit down first, it’s really tiring.
Pag-imbita
Meaning
- Pag-imbita = “invitation” / “the act of inviting.”
Part of Speech
- Noun (verbal noun, from the verb imbita = to invite).
Usage / Context
- Refers to the act of inviting someone or the invitation itself.
- Common in social situations like parties, weddings, and gatherings.
- Borrowed from Spanish invitar.
Example Sentences
- Salamat sa pag-imbita sa inyong kasal.
→ Thank you for the invitation to your wedding. - Wala koy nadawat nga pag-imbita.
→ I did not receive an invitation. - Ang iyang pag-imbita sa tanan klaro kaayo.
→ His/Her invitation to everyone was very clear.
Flashcards
DIALOGUE PRACTICE
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Cebuano
A.
Joyce: Ayo! Maayong udto te.
Leah: Maayong udto sad day. Ali dayun!
B.
Joyce: Bless ko te.
Leah: Santa
C.
Leah: Kumusta man ka day?
Joyce: Okay ra te.
D.
Joyce: Pasensya sa abala te ha!
Leah: Okay ra day oi. Dali lingkud.
E.
Joyce: Salamat sa pag-imbita kanako ate.
Leah: Way sapayan day.
F.
Leah: Balik balik baya puhon day.
Joyce: O sunod puhon nasad ate.
English
A.
Joyce: Excuse me / Anybody home? / Hello! Good noon!
Leah: Good noon/afternoon too. Come inside!
B.
Joyce: Your hand! Let me bless you. (This is a hand gesture as a greeting or respecting the older)
Leah: Bless you. (This is a reply in that situation which means to bless the person)
C.
Leah: How are you?
Joyce: I’m fine.
D.
Joyce: I’m sorry for troubling you.
Leah: It’s okay. Come here, sit down.
E.
Joyce: Thank you for inviting me.
Leah: You’re welcome.
F.
Leah: Come back again!
Joyce: Yes, next time.
LESSON
⚫ Maayong Buntag/Maayong Udto/Mayaong Hapon/ Maayong Gabii
These greetings are used when you meet someone or before entering the house and you meet his/her family or relatives. It’s also a way of respecting the host.
⚫ Pabless ko
This is one of our culture to show respect to elders and other people older than you.
⚫ Kumusta?
A common greeting being ask to someone you’ve just met
or haven’t seen for a long time. Actually this question is
usually asks by the host.
⚫ Pasensya sa abala
This is a generous way of saying when you trouble people or when you’re visiting someone’s house
⚫ Salamat sa pag-imbita kanako
This is a very important phrase to use before you leave someone’s house. You have to say thank you to the host.
⚫ Sunod puhon nasad
This is a phrase when you say that you want to visit again someday.
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
- This expression is to show respect to elders and other
people older than you.
a. Kumusta?
b. Pabless ko
c. Sunod puhon
d. Pasensya sa abala - What do you say when you want to visit again someday?
a. Kumusta?
b. Pabless ko
c. Sunod puhon
d. Pasensya sa abala - What do you say when you great someone in the afternoon?
a. Maayong buntag
b. Maayong udto
c. Maayong hapon
d. Maayong gabii - This is a generous way of saying when you trouble people.
a. Kumusta?
b. Pabless ko
c. Sunod puhon
d. Pasensya sa abala - What do you say when you great someone in the evening?
a. Maayong buntag
b. Maayong udto
c. Maayong hapon
d. Maayong gabii
EXERCISE
Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.
- day / baya / balik / puhon / balik
- abala / sa / te / pasensya
- man / day / kumusta / ka / ?
- pag-imbita / ate / salamat / kanako / sa
- udto / day / maayong / sad
REVIEW
Directions: Let’s do a role play.
A.
Joyce: Ayo! Maayong _ te. Leah: Maayong sad day. Ali ! B. Joyce: ko te.
Leah: Santa
C.
Leah: man ka day?
Joyce: _ ra te.
D.
Joyce: sa abala te ha!
Leah: Okay ra day oi. Dali . E. Joyce: Salamat sa ate.
Leah: Way day.
F.
Leah: Balik baya day.
Joyce: O puhon __ ate.
Comment