dos syentos singkwenta

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of Speech: numeral (cardinal)
• Meaning: “dos syentos singkwenta” means two hundred fifty (250).

Example sentences

• Naay dos syentos singkwenta ka estudyante sa pista. — There are two hundred fifty students at the fiesta.
• Nag-order siya ug dos syentos singkwenta ka pan de sal. — She ordered two hundred fifty bread rolls.
• Ang danyo kay dos syentos singkwenta pesos. — The damage fee is two hundred fifty pesos.

2. Number Origin

• Spanish-based compound: dos syentos (200) + singkwenta (50).
• Native Bisaya counterpart: duha ka gatos ug kalim-an (seldom used, very formal).

3. Cebuano- vs Spanish-Based Numbers

• Native series (e.g., duha ka gatos ug kalim-an = 250) appears in ritual chants, proverbs, or rural counting.
• Spanish series (dos syentos, dos syentos singkwenta, …) dominates in prices, dates, pagination, and everyday conversation.
• Speakers keep one system per number: ✓ dos syentos singkwenta; ✗ duha ka gatos ug singkwenta (mixed).

4. Detailed Usage Notes

• Standard spelling is dos syentos singkwenta; colloquial speech may turn it into do’ syentos singkwenta.
• Always insert classifier ka with counted nouns: dos syentos singkwenta ka piraso.
• For playful clock jokes: alas otso ug dos syentos singkwenta (8 : 250 → 12 : 10, obviously humorous).
• May stand alone as a short reply about amount: “Dos syentos singkwenta.”

5. Five Common Pitfalls

1. Writing the pure-Spanish doscientos cincuenta in Cebuano contexts.
2. Mixing native and Spanish roots in one figure (duha ka gatos ug singkwenta ✗).
3. Misplacing stress (correct dós syén-tos sing-kwén-ta).
4. Omitting ka before a noun (dos syentos singkwenta libro ✗).
5. Forgetting to state the unit in prices (dos syentos singkwenta ✗ → dos syentos singkwenta pesos ✓).

6. Common Collocations

• dos syentos singkwenta pesos — 250 pesos
• dos syentos singkwenta ka minuto — 250 minutes
• dos syentos singkwenta ka adlaw — 250 days
• dos syentos singkwenta ka piraso — 250 pieces
• dos syentos singkwenta anyos — 250 years old (hyperbolic)

7. Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Misspelling (dociyentos, dos syentus, cincuenta) in formal text.
• Adding mga before the numeral (mga dos syentos singkwenta ka…).
• Forgetting ug in playful “clock” talk (alas diyes dos syentos singkwenta ✗).
• Saying syentos singkwenta for 250 (missing the “dos”).
• Using plain numerals alone in formal prose (250 ka minuto) without the word form.

8. Five Frequent Conversational Phrases

• Dos syentos singkwenta tanan. — The total is 250.
• Na-late ko ug dos syentos singkwenta ka minuto. — I was 250 minutes late.
• Dos syentos singkwenta ra gyod! — Make it only 250!
• Dos syentos singkwenta ang target. — The target is 250.
• Quota kay dos syentos singkwenta ka buok. — The quota is 250 pieces.

9. Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Pila ang pamasahe? — How much is the fare?
   B: Dos syentos singkwenta pesos ra. — Only 250 pesos.
2. A: Tag-pila ning ubas? — How much are these grapes?
   B: Dos syentos singkwenta pesos ang kilo. — 250 pesos per kilo.
3. A: Unsa kadugay ang seminar? — How long is the seminar?
   B: Mga dos syentos singkwenta ka minuto. — About 250 minutes.
4. A: Pila kabuok bisita? — How many guests?
   B: Naay dos syentos singkwenta ka bisita. — There are 250 guests.
5. A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang show? — What time did the show start?
   B: Alas siyete ug dos syentos singkwenta (joke). — At 7 : 250 (meaning 11 : 10, jokingly).

10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Pila ang imong allowance? — How much is your allowance?

A. Pesos allowance dos syentos singkwenta akong.
B. Allowance akong dos syentos singkwenta pesos.
C. Dos syentos singkwenta pesos akong allowance.

Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang training? — How many days is the training?

A. Dos syentos singkwenta adlaw ka.
B. Ka adlaw dos syentos singkwenta.
C. Dos syentos singkwenta ka adlaw.

Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? — How long is the trip?

A. Dos syentos singkwenta ka minuto ang biyahe.
B. Ka minuto dos syentos singkwenta ang biyahe.
C. Ang biyahe dos syentos singkwenta ka minuto ang.

Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? — How many students are in the class?

A. Estudyante dos syentos singkwenta ka naa.
B. Naa dos syentos singkwenta ka estudyante ka.
C. Dos syentos singkwenta ka estudyante naa.

Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? — What time did you arrive?

A. Ko miabot dos syentos singkwenta ug alas dos.
B. Miabot ko dos syentos singkwenta alas dos ug.
C. Alas dos ug dos syentos singkwenta ko miabot.

Answer Key