Learn Cebuano step by step!
In this lesson, you will finally understand the difference between “og” and “ug” in Cebuano grammar. These two small words often confuse beginners, but once you master them, your Cebuano sentences will sound much more natural.
You will learn:
✔️ When to use “og” to connect words (like and)
✔️ When to use “ug” to introduce objects in a sentence
✔️ Common mistakes learners make with og vs ug
✔️ Practical examples and dialogues for everyday use
Example sentences from this lesson:
✨ Palihog kog hatag og libro – Please give me a book
✨ Nipalit siya ug isda og gulay – He/She bought fish and vegetables
✨ Nagtuon siya og Cebuano ug English – He/She is studying Cebuano and English
This lesson is perfect for:
✔️ Beginners who are confused about og and ug
✔️ Students learning Cebuano / Bisaya grammar step by step
✔️ Anyone who wants to improve daily Cebuano conversations
By the end of this video, you’ll know exactly how to use “og” and “ug” correctly in Cebuano.
VOCABULARY
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Katapusan sa Semana
Meaning
- Katapusan sa semana = “weekend” / literally “the end of the week.”
Part of Speech
- Noun phrase (katapusan = end, semana = week).
Usage / Context
- Used to refer to Saturday and Sunday (the weekend).
- Very common in Cebuano when talking about plans, schedules, or free time.
Example Sentences
- Unsa imong plano sa katapusan sa semana?
→ What are your plans for the weekend? - Magbakasyon mi sa katapusan sa semana.
→ We will go on vacation this weekend. - Busy siya pirme sa trabaho, apan sa katapusan sa semana maka-relax siya.
→ He/She is always busy with work, but on weekends he/she can relax.
Mogikan
Meaning
- Mogikan = “will come from” / “will depart from.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (future aspect; from root gikan = from / origin).
Usage / Context
- Used to indicate the place of origin or starting point of someone/something.
- Very common when talking about travel, movement, or departure.
Example Sentences
- Mogikan siya sa Manila ugma.
→ He/She will come from Manila tomorrow. - Asa ka mogikan?
→ Where will you come from? - Mogikan ang bus sa terminal alas-sais.
→ The bus will depart from the terminal at six o’clock.
Angayan
Meaning
- Angayan = “suitable” / “appropriate” / “fitting.”
- Can also mean “deserving” depending on context.
Part of Speech
- Adjective.
Usage / Context
- Used when describing if something is right, proper, or suitable for a person, situation, or action.
- Very common in formal Cebuano, but also used in casual daily conversation.
Example Sentences
- Angayan siya mahimong lider.
→ He/She is suitable to be a leader. - Dili angayan nga mosulti ka ana sa publiko.
→ It’s not appropriate for you to say that in public. - Angayan ka nga pasidunggan tungod sa imong paningkamot.
→ You deserve to be honored because of your effort.
Mosul-ob
Meaning
- Mosul-ob = “to wear” / “to put on (clothes).”
Part of Speech
- Verb (future/habitual aspect; from root sul-ob = to wear).
Usage / Context
- Used when talking about putting on or wearing clothes, shoes, or accessories.
- Very common in daily Cebuano when preparing to go out or describing what someone is wearing.
Example Sentences
- Mosul-ob ko og bag-ong sanina karon gabii.
→ I will wear new clothes tonight. - Dili siya mosul-ob og jacket bisan tugnaw.
→ He/She won’t wear a jacket even if it’s cold. - Unsa nga sapatos imong mosul-ob?
→ Which shoes will you wear?
Nindot
Meaning
- Nindot = “beautiful” / “nice” / “good” / “wonderful.”
Part of Speech
- Adjective.
Usage / Context
- A very common and flexible word in Cebuano.
- Used to describe appearance, quality, experiences, or feelings.
- Can apply to people, objects, places, or situations.
Example Sentences
- Nindot ang imong sinina.
→ Your clothes are nice. - Nindot ang tan-awon sa baybayon.
→ The beach looks beautiful. - Nindot kaayo ang salida.
→ The movie was really good.
Ilimnon
Meaning
- Ilimnon = “drink” / “beverage.”
Part of Speech
- Noun (from root inom = to drink).
Usage / Context
- Refers to any drinkable liquid (water, juice, soda, coffee, alcohol, etc.).
- Very common in daily Cebuano, especially in restaurants, stores, and households.
Example Sentences
- Unsay imong paboritong ilimnon?
→ What is your favorite drink? - Palita og ilimnon sa tindahan.
→ Buy a beverage at the store. - Ang tubig mao ang labing importante nga ilimnon.
→ Water is the most important drink.
Nihatag
Meaning
- Nihatag = “gave.”
Part of Speech
- Verb (past/perfective aspect; from root hatag = give).
Usage / Context
- Used to describe an action in the past where someone gave something to another person.
- Very common in everyday Cebuano, especially in sharing, helping, or transactions.
Example Sentences
- Nihatag siya og kwarta sa iyang igsoon.
→ He/She gave money to his/her sibling. - Kinsa ang nihatag nimo og regalo?
→ Who gave you a gift? - Nihatag ang maestro og buluhaton sa klase.
→ The teacher gave an assignment to the class.
Buotan
Meaning
- Buotan = “kind” / “good-hearted” / “well-behaved.”
Part of Speech
- Adjective.
Usage / Context
- Used to describe a person with good manners, kindness, or good character.
- Very common in daily Cebuano, especially when praising children, friends, or family members.
Example Sentences
- Buotan kaayo ang bata.
→ The child is very well-behaved. - Ang imong igsoon buotan ug matinabangon.
→ Your sibling is kind and helpful. - Ganahan ko niya kay buotan siya.
→ I like him/her because he/she is kind.
Sobra
Meaning
- Sobra = “excess” / “too much” / “extra.”
Part of Speech
- Adjective / adverb / noun (depending on context).
Usage / Context
- Very common in daily Cebuano.
- Can mean:
- Too much / excessive → “sobra kaayo” = “too much.”
- Extra / leftover → referring to food, money, or things beyond what is needed.
- Excessively / very (as an intensifier).
Example Sentences
- Sobra ang asin sa sabaw.
→ The soup has too much salt. - Naay sobra nga pagkaon gikan sa fiesta.
→ There is leftover food from the fiesta. - Sobra kaayo ko malipay kung makauli ka.
→ I’ll be very happy if you can come home.
Batasan
Meaning
- Batasan = “behavior” / “character” / “habit.”
Part of Speech
- Noun.
Usage / Context
- Refers to a person’s manner, attitude, or way of acting.
- Can be used positively (maayong batasan = good behavior) or negatively (daotang batasan = bad behavior).
- Very common in both everyday and formal Cebuano, especially in schools, families, and communities.
Example Sentences
- Maayo ang batasan sa bata.
→ The child has good behavior. - Dili angayan ang dautang batasan.
→ Bad behavior is not acceptable. - Makaila ka sa tawo pinaagi sa iyang batasan.
→ You can know a person through his/her character.
Flashcards
DIALOGUE PRACTICE
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Situation: Joyce and Leah are planning to go to the beach.
Cebuano
Jen: Leah, mangadto kita sa dagat.
Leah: Sige. Ganahan ko ana kay gikapoy na ko og trabaho. Bakante ra ako sa katapusan sa semana.
Jen: Sige, inig Biyernes sa gabii ta mogikan.
Leah: Maayo kana! Kinsa paman ang mokuyog?
Jen: Sila Amanda, Emmy, si Joyce ug Jaydee.
Leah: Murag malingaw jud ta.
Leah: Sakto sad oi kay nigamay-gamay nako karon. Angayan na ako mosul-ob og bikini.
Jen: Bitaw nigamay na ka, Leah. Nindot na kaayo ka og lawas.
Leah: Mamalit ta og sanina pangkaligo, Jen.
Jen: Sige. Unya mamalit sad kita og mga pagkaon ug ilimnon.
Leah: Sige. Mokuyog sila nato?
Jen: Dili, pero nihatag ra sila og kwarta para sa palitonon nato nga mga pagkaon ug ilimnon.
Leah: Maayo nuon.
Jen: Buotan kaayo si Emmy kay nihatag siya og sobra nga kwarta.
Leah: Nindot jud siyag batasan.
English
Jen: Leah, let’s go to the beach.
Leah: Okay. I like that because I’m tired of working. I’m free on weekends.
Jen: Okay, we will leave on Friday night.
Leah: That’s good! Who else will go?
Jen: Amanda, Emmy, Joyce, and Jaydee.
Leah: I think we’ll have fun.
Leah: It’s just the right timing because I’m a little thinner. I already look good wearing a bikini.
Jen: Indeed you’re already thin, Leah. You have a nice body.
Leah: Let’s buy a swimwear/swimsuit, Jen.
Jen: Okay. Then, we will buy food and drinks too.
Leah: Okay. Will they come with us?
Jen: No, but they only gave money for the food and drinks that we will buy.
Leah: That’s good.
Jen: Emmy was very kind because she gave extra money.
Leah: She really has good character.
LESSON
The difference between ”og” and ”ug”;
⚫ ug
➢ conjunction ”and”
For examples:
Sila Amanda, Emmy, Joyce ug Jaydee
Amanda, Emmy, Joyce and Jaydee
Unya mamalit sad kita og mga pagkaon ug ilimnon.
Then, we will also buy foods and drinks.
⚫ og
➢ used as a conjunction of adjective and noun if the end refers to the body parts, attitude, traits and character of person/people, animals and things.
➢ a/an/ (indefinite article)
➢ objective article
For examples:
Ganahan ko ana kay gikapoy na ako og trabaho.
I like that because I’m already tired of working.
Angayan na ako mosul-ob og bikini.
I will (already) look good wearing a bikini. / It’s suitable for me to wear a bikini.
Nindot na kaayo ka og lawas.
You have a very nice body.
Mamalit ta og sanina pangkaligo, Jen.
Let’s buy a swimwear/swimsuit, Jen.
Dili pero nihatag ra sila og kwarta para sa palitonon nato nga mga pagkaon ug ilimnon.
No but they only gave money for us to buy food.
Buotan kaayo si Emmy kay nihatag siya og sobra nga kwarta.
Emmy is very kind because she gave extra money.
Nindot jud siya’g batasan.
She definitely has a good attitude.
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
- How do we say ”og” in Cebuano?
a. and
b. ang
c. objective article
d. objective pronoun - Does ”og” used as an indifinite article?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Maybe
d. I don’t know - How do we say suitable in Cebuano?
a. bati
b.nindot
c. lawas
d. angayan - How do we say ‘and’ in Cebuano?
a. og
b. ug
c. sa
d. ko - What’s the translation of “You have a very nice body”?
EXERCISE
Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.
- lawas / na / ka / nindot / kaayo / og
- gikapoy / ko / og / trabaho / ana / ganahan / na / kay / ako
- Emmy / sobra / kaayo / buotan / kwarta / og / si / siya / nga / kay / nihatag
- batasan / nindot / jud / siya’g
- mosul-ob / na / bikini / angayan / ako / og
REVIEW
Directions: Let’s use the prefix ”gipa” that you’ve learned during the lesson and make some sentences.
For example:
Nindot na kaayo ka og lawas.
You have a very nice body.
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