gamay

Cebuano Word: “gamay”

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, Usage, Example Sentences

Part of speech: adjective
Core meaning: “small,” “little,” “slight.” Describes limited physical size (gamay nga lamesa – a small table) or figurative quantity/importance (gamay nga oras – little time).

Example sentences

• Gamay ra ang kuwarto. – “The room is small.”
• Gamay’ng problema lang ni. – “This is just a small problem.”
• Naa koy gamay nga kwarta para nimo. – “I have a little money for you.”
• Nag-gamay ang bayad karon. – “The fee has become smaller today.”

2. Linking Endings and Derivational Forms

Linkers (attach adjective to a noun)

• -ng after a consonant: gamay’ng bata – “small child.”
• nga for vowels or added clarity: gamay nga isda – “small fish.”

Degree and intensity

• mas gamay – “smaller.”
• pinakagamay – “smallest.”
• gamay-gamay – “rather small.”
• gamay kaayo / gamay ra – “very small / only a little.”

Exclamatory and abstract nouns

• Kagamay nimo! – “How small you are!” (prefix ka- for exclamation).
• kagam-ay – “smallness, littleness.”
• pagkagamay – “the state of being small.”

Verb derivatives

• mugamay / nigamay / nagamay – “become smaller” (future, past, present-prog.).
• pagamay-a (imperative) / pagamayon (future patient-focus) – “reduce, shrink.”

3. Typical Positions in a Sentence

1. Predicate adjective after the subject: Ang larawan gamay.
2. Modifier before a noun with linker: gamay’ng siyudad.
3. Complement after emphatic mao: Mao ni ang gamay nga isyu.

4. Common Collocations

• gamay nga bata – small child
• gamay nga oras – little time
• gamay nga tsansa – slim chance
• gamay nga bayad – small fee
• gamay’ng kaldero – small pot

5. Detailed Usage Notes

“Gamay” covers physical size, quantity, duration, and even importance. As an attributive modifier it must carry -ng or nga; as a predicate it needs none. Comparative (mas gamay) and superlative (pinakagamay) follow the same patterns you learned with dako. Reduplication (gamay-gamay) lessens intensity, while kaayo heightens it. Verb forms let you speak about shrinking or reducing something (pagamay-a ang litrato – enlarge? no, shrink the picture).

6. Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Dropping the linker: ✗ gamay bata → ✓ gamay’ng bata.
• Reversing comparative order: ✗ gamay mas → ✓ mas gamay.
• Separating pinaka from the root: ✗ pinaka gamay → ✓ pinakagamay.
• Forgetting the hyphen in reduplication: ✗ gamaygamay → ✓ gamay-gamay.
• Overusing gamay for age (use bata for “young” when age, not size, is meant).

7. Five Everyday Conversational Phrases

1. Gamay ra ko’g panahon karon. – I only have a little time now.
2. Pwede gamay lang nga discount? – Can I get just a small discount?
3. Mas gamay ang bayad kung estudyante ka. – The fee is smaller if you are a student.
4. Ayaw kabalaka, gamay ra ni nga problema. – Don’t worry, this is only a minor problem.
5. Pinakagamay gyud ni nga libro sa koleksiyon. – This is the very smallest book in the collection.

8. Five Short Conversation Exchanges

1. Q: Gamay ba ang imong bag? – Is your bag small?
   A: Oo, gamay ra kay pang-lakaw ra man. – Yes, it’s small because it’s just for a stroll.
2. Q: Ngano mas gamay ang bayranan karon? – Why is the payment smaller today?
   A: Mas gamay kay naa may promo. – It’s smaller because there’s a promo.
3. Q: Asa ko mopalit ug gamay nga notebook? – Where can I buy a small notebook?
   A: Palit sa gawas; daghan didto gamay nga size. – Buy outside; there are many small sizes there.
4. Q: Gamay ra ba ang lugar sa kainan? – Is the dining area tiny?
   A: Gamay-gamay ra pero komportable. – It’s rather small but comfortable.
5. Q: Unsaon nimo pag-gamay sa gasto? – How will you reduce the expense?
   A: Pagamay-on nako ang budget sa kuryente. – I’ll cut down the electricity budget.

9. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Gamay ba ang problema ninyo?
A. Oo, gamay ra ang among problema.
B. Oo, problema gamay ra among ang.
C. Oo, gamay problema ra among ang.

Q2. Asa ang mas gamay, ang bag o ang kahon?
A. Mas gamay ang bag kaysa kahon.
B. Bag kaysa kahon ang mas gamay.
C. Mas gamay kaysa bag ang kahon.

Q3. Pinakagamay ba kini nga isda imong nakita?
A. Oo, pinakagamay kini nga isda akong nakita.
B. Oo, kini pinakagamay nga nakita akong isda.
C. Oo, nakita kini akong nga pinakagamay isda.

Q4. Ngano gamay ra imong oras karon?
A. Gamay ra akong oras kay daghan kog buhaton.
B. Kay daghan kog buhaton gamay ra akong oras.
C. Gamay kay daghan ra akong buhaton oras.

Q5. Kinsa’y naay gamay-gamay nga motor sa barangay?
A. Si Ana naay gamay-gamay nga motor.
B. Naay si Ana gamay-gamay motor.
C. Motor gamay-gamay naay si Ana.

Answer Key and Explanations

• Q1 → A is correct. Predicate gamay ra comes before the subject ang among problema. The other two scramble articles and word order.
• Q2 → A is correct. Follows “Mas gamay ang X kaysa Y.” B and C misplace components.
• Q3 → A is correct. Places pinakagamay right before kini, then the clause. B and C mis-order demonstrative and verb.
• Q4 → A is correct. Begins with the predicate then gives the reason. B is acceptable in spoken style but still shifts order; C jumbles predicate elements.
• Q5 → A is correct. Pattern “naay + subject + description” is intact; the others break the sequence.