Cebuano Word: hain
1 Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of speech: interrogative adverb / interrogative pronoun
- Core meaning: “where” — chiefly used in northern-coastal and literary registers; functionally interchangeable with asa and diin.
Everyday example sentences
- • Hain ka karon? – Where are you now?
- • Hain man ang estasyon sa tren? – Where, then, is the train station?
- • Gusto ko masayod hain sila nagpuyo. – I would like to know where they live.
2 Learning Points for Cebuano Interrogatives
- Regional preference: Hain predominates in parts of northern Cebu and some media broadcasts; elsewhere, learners will hear asa more often.
- Sentence-initial rule: Like all Cebuano wh-words, hain normally heads a direct question.
- Particle insertion: man may follow for emphasis (Hain man ang terminal?).
- Indirect questions: When reported, hain shifts after the matrix verb (Gi-pangutana ko hain mo-adto sila).
- Intonation: Maintain a final rising tone; it distinguishes genuine questions from relative clauses.
3 Common Collocations
- • hain ka – where are you
- • hain man – so where / where, then
- • hain dapit – where exactly
- • hain gikan – where (something) came from
- • hain paingon – where headed
4 Typical Position in a Sentence
- Direct question: Hain + ang + noun/subject (or pronoun) Hain ang ospital? – Where is the hospital?
- Indirect question: verb + hain + clause Nangutana siya hain mi mag-kita. – He asked where we would meet.
5 Five Conversational Phrases
- • Hain ka gikan? – Where have you come from?
- • Hain ta mag-kita? – Where shall we meet?
- • Hain ko makapalit ani? – Where can I buy this?
- • Hain ang pinakaduol nga ATM? – Where is the nearest ATM?
- • Hain paingon ang bus? – Where is the bus going?
6 Five Mini-Dialogues (Cebuano ↔ English)
- A: Hain ka paingon? – Where are you heading?
B: Pa-adto ko sa merkado. – I’m on my way to the market. - A: Hain ta mag-panihapon? – Where shall we have dinner?
B: Sa bay-bayon ta, nindot didto. – Let’s eat by the seaside; it’s nice there. - A: Hain ang opisina sa turismo? – Where is the tourism office?
B: Atbang sa simbahan. – Opposite the church. - A: Hain ka nakakat-on og Cebuano? – Where did you learn Cebuano?
B: Sa usa ka online course. – In an online course. - A: Hain gikan kining kape? – Where did this coffee come from?
B: Gikan sa Bukidnon, lami kaayo. – From Bukidnon; it’s very good.
7 Multiple-Choice Dialogue Exercise
Each prompt is a declarative statement. Choose the interrogative sentence (using hain) that correctly asks for the information mentioned. One choice per item is grammatical; the other two are deliberately mis-ordered.
Questions with Answer Choices
Q1. Maria needs to ask the exact location of the library.
A. Librarya hain ang?
B. Hain ang librarya?
C. Ang hain librarya?
Q2. The tourists want to know the position of the airport.
A. Hain ang tugpahanan?
B. Tugpahanan hain ang?
C. Ang tugpahanan hain?
Q3. Carlos must inquire where those fruits came from.
A. Hain gikan ang prutas?
B. Gikan prutas hain ang?
C. Prutas hain gikan ang?
Q4. The driver should ask the precise parking spot.
A. Dapit parkehan ang hain?
B. Hain dapit ang parkehan?
C. Parkehan hain dapit ang?
Q5. Ana wants to discover the destination of that ferry.
A. Hain paingon ang lantsa?
B. Paingon lantsa hain ang?
C. Ang lantsa hain paingon?
Answer Key & Explanations
- Q1 – Correct: B
Hain must open the question, followed by ang librarya. - Q2 – Correct: A
Correct order: Hain ang tugpahanan? - Q3 – Correct: A
Proper sequence: Hain gikan ang prutas? (gikan “came from” follows hain). - Q4 – Correct: B
Standard pattern: Hain dapit ang parkehan? (“where exactly the parking area is”). - Q5 – Correct: A
Correct interrogative structure: Hain paingon ang lantsa? (“where the ferry is headed”).
