Discover how to form sentences in Cebuano with this easy-to-follow lesson. Whether you want to buy vegetables , watch a movie , or go to a specific place , this video will show you how to say “I want to…” using the simple pattern
Ganahan + S + V. Perfect for absolute beginners!
VOCABULARY
BUHATON
- Part of Speech: Verb
- Meaning: “to do,” “to make,” or “to work on”
- Usage:
- It is used to talk about actions that are going to happen in the future.
- It’s the future tense form of the verb “buhat,” which means “do” or “make.”
- You can think of it as the equivalent of “will do” or “is going to do” in English.
- Examples:
- Buhaton nako ang akong homework unya.
- (I will do my homework later.)
- Unsa’y imong buhaton ugma?
- (What are you going to do tomorrow?)
- Buhaton nako ang akong homework unya.
MOADTO
- part of speech: verb
- meaning: to go
- when to use it: when you are expressing the future action of going to a place.
- example sentences:
- moadto ko sa merkado ugma. (i will go to the market tomorrow.)
- moadto sila sa simbahan karong domingo. (they will go to church this sunday.)
DIDTO
- part of speech: adverb of place
- meaning: there
- when to use it: when referring to a location that is far from both the speaker and the listener.
- example sentences:
- nagpuyo sila didto sa manila. (they live there in manila.)
- ang akong mga higala nagtrabaho didto. (my friends are working there.)
MAMALIT
- part of speech: verb
- meaning: to buy; will buy; to go shopping
- when to use it: when you are expressing the future action of buying something, often implying multiple items or the act of shopping.
- example sentences:
- mamalit ko og prutas ugma. (i will buy fruit tomorrow.)
- mamalit sila og mga regalo para sa pasko. (they will buy gifts for christmas.)
MANGUKAY
- part of speech: verb
- meaning: to dig up; to rummage; to search through something messily
- when to use it: when you are describing the action of digging for something, or searching through a pile of things in a disordered way. it is often used when looking for something in a closet, a drawer, or a pile of clothes.
- example sentences:
- mangukay ko sa akong aparador para pangitaon akong daan nga sinina. (i will rummage through my closet to look for my old dress.)
- ngano mangukay ka sa basura? (why are you digging through the trash?)
MOKAON
- part of speech: verb
- meaning: to eat; will eat
- when to use it: when you are expressing the future action of eating.
- example sentences:
- mokaon ko unya. (i will eat later.)
- mokaon sila og panihapon sa dili pa matulog. (they will eat dinner before sleeping.)
BALUT
- part of speech: noun
- meaning: a filipino street food consisting of a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten from the shell.
- when to use it: when referring to the specific food item.
- example sentences:
- lami ang balut, ilabi na kung naay suka. (balut is delicious, especially with vinegar.)
- namaligya sila og bugnaw nga beer ug balut. (they sell cold beer and balut.)
Flashcards
DIALOGUE PRACTICE
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Situation: Leah and Joyce are talking about what they want.
Cebuano
Joyce: Leah, unsa imong ganahan buhaton karon?
Leah: Ganahan ko moadto sa Carbon.
Joyce: Mag-unsa man ka didto?
Leah: Ganahan ko mamalit og mga utanon ug prutas.
Joyce: Sige mangadto ta. Ganahan ko mangukay didto.
Leah: sige. Ganahan sad ko mangukay
Joyce: Unya mangaon sad ta og balot.
Leah: Ganahan diay ka og balot?
Joyce: O. Kalami sa balut. Dili ka mokaon og balut?
Leah: Dili. Sige lang. Mokaon ra ko og tempura.
English
Joyce: Leah, what do you want to do?
Leah: I want to go to Carbon.
Joyce: What are you going to do over there?
Leah: I want to buy vegetables and fruits.
Joyce: Okay, let’s go. I want to go to thrift clothes there.
Leah: Okay. I want to go to thrift clothes too.
Joyce: Then, let’s eat balot too.
Leah: Do you like balot?
Joyce: Yes. It’s delicious. Don’t you eat balot?
Leah: No. It’s okay. I’ll eat tempura.
LESSON
⚫ Ganahan + S + V
Ganahan ko . I want/like to .
For examples:
Ganahan ko mokaon og lechon.
I want to eat lechon.
Ganahan ko moadto sa Carbon.
I want to go to Carbon.
Ganahan ko molaag sa SM Seaside.
I want to wander in SM Seaside.
Ganahan ko moinom og serbesa.
I want to drink beer.
Ganahan siya motan-aw og salida.
She/He wants to watch a movie.
Ganahan ko mokuyog ninyo.
I want to go with you.
Ganahan ko moluto og humba. (humba – is a dish of tenderpork, salted black beans, and an assortment of spices.)
I want to cook humba.
Ganahan ko mamalit og mga utanon ug prutas.
I want to buy vegetables and fruits.
Ganahan ko motawag nimo karon.
I want to call you now.
⚫ Dili + S + ganahan + V
For examples:
Dili ko ganahn mokanta.
I don’t want to sing.
Dili ko ganahan mosayaw
I don’t wan to dance.
Dili ko ganahan mosulod.
I don’t want to go inside.
Dili ko ganahan nimo.
I don’t like you.
COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
- How do you say ‘want’ in Cebuano?
a. mamalit
b. ganahan
c. didto
d. balut - How do you say ‘to do’ in Cebuano?
a. didto
b. mokaon
c. mamalit
d. buhaton - How do you say ‘to buy’ in Cebuano?
a. mokaon
b. mamalit
c. moadto
d. mangukay - How do you say ‘to go to thrift clothes’ in Cebuano?
a. mokaon
b. mamalit
c. moadto
d. mangukay - How do you say ‘to eat’ in Cebuano?
a. mokaon
b. mamalit
c. moadto
d. mangukay
EXERCISE
Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.
- moadto / ko / Carbon / ganahan / sa
- mamalit / ug / utanon / ganahan / og / ko / mga / prutas
- ko / mosulod / ganahan / dili
- og / ganahan / serbesa / moinom / ko /
- nimo / ko / motawag / karon / ganahan
REVIEW
Directions: Let’s use the patterns that you’ve learned during the lesson and make some sentences.
For example:
Ganahan ko mokuyog ninyo.
I want to go with you.
⚫ Ganahan + S + V
- –
- –
- –
⚫ Dili + S + ganahan + V
- –
- –
- –
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