1 Part of speech, core meaning, and example sentences
- Part of speech
- Core meaning
- Example sentences
2 Verb derivations of higda
| Form | Voice & aspect | English gloss | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| mag-higda | Actor-focus, habitual / future | will usually lie down | Mag-higda siya ug sayo aron makamata og sayo. |
| mo-higda | Actor-focus, non-past / imperative | will lie down; lie down! | Mo-higda ta karon, ha. |
| nag-higda | Actor-focus, progressive | is / was lying down | Nag-higda ko pag-text nimo. |
| ni-higda / mi-higda | Actor-focus, completed past | lay down | Ni-higda sila dayon pagkahuman sa jogging. |
| gi-higdaan | Patient- / locative-focus, past | was lain on / lied on | Gi-higdaan sa iro ang mainit nga semento. |
| higda-on (-on) | Patient-focus, future / imp. | to be lain on / lie on it | Higda-on nato ang banig kung walay higdaanan. |
| higda-an / higda-i (-an / -i) | Locative / beneficiary | to lay on / lay for | Higda-i ko palihog sa malukot nga habol. |
3 Where to use it in the sentence
- Actor focus: Mo-higda ko sa kwarto kay sakit akong ulo.
- Patient focus: Gi-higdaan ang kutson sa bisita.
- Beneficiary / locative: Higda-i siya ug unlan nga bag-o.
4 Common collocations
- higda sa kama — lie on the bed
- mag-higda og samot — lie down even more / stay in bed
- walay higdaanan — no place to lie down
- gi-higdaan sa iro — the dog lay on it
- higda-on nga banig — mat to lie on
5 Detailed usage notes
- Posture & rest – Default verb for lying horizontally; complements lingkod (sit) and tindog (stand).
- Health context – Doctors advise higda usa (“lie down first”) for dizziness or faintness.
- Cultural nuance – In Visayan homes, pahuway (rest) often implies higda on a bamboo bed (papag) midday.
- Figurative idiom – dili magpahigda (“won’t take it lying down”) means refusing defeat.
- Markers –
• ug/og seldom used; typically sa for location: mo-higda ko sa banig.
• -an / -i targets beneficiary/place: higda-i ako sa lapalapa (“let me lie on the hammock”).
6 Common mistakes & things to watch out for
| Mistake | Problem | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Mo-higda ako sa floor. | Clitic ko must come right after the verb. | Mo-higda ko sa floor. |
| Gi-higda ko ang bata. | gi- form requires genitive actor (ni / sa). | Gi-higdaan ni ko ang bata sa banig. |
| Higda-on ta siya! | Beneficiary imperative must be higda-i. | Higda-i siya! |
| Nag-higda sa sala | Missing subject. | Nag-higda ang lalaki sa sala. |
7 Conversational phrases
- “Higda sa usa, kapuy kaayo ka.” — “Lie down for a bit, you’re very tired.”
- “Di ko makatulog kung di ko mag-higda ug unlan nga taas.” — “I can’t sleep if I don’t lie with a high pillow.”
- “Ni-higda ra ko pero wala ko katulog.” — “I just lay down but didn’t fall asleep.”
- “Ayaw higda-i ang laptop ha.” — “Don’t lie on the laptop, okay?”
- “Mag-higda lang ko samtang naghulat.” — “I’ll just recline while waiting.”
8 Everyday conversations
- A: Mo-higda ka na? — Are you going to lie down now?
B: Oo, kapuy kaayo akong likod. — Yes, my back is really tired. - A: Nag-higda pa ba si Lola? — Is Grandma still lying down?
B: Oo, wala pa siya nakamata. — Yes, she hasn’t woken up yet. - A: Higda-i ko palihog sa bag-o nga kutson. — Please let me lie on the new mattress.
B: Sige, limpyo pa man na. — Sure, it’s still clean. - A: Ni-higda ko ganiha pero na-alarma man ko sa phone. — I lay down earlier but my phone alarmed.
B: I-snooze lang sunod para makahigda ka ug tarong. — Just snooze next time so you can lie properly. - A: Mag-higda ta sa baybayon samtang nagtan-aw sa bituon. — Let’s lie on the beach while watching the stars.
B: Ayos! Dad-a ko’g banig ha. — Nice! Bring me a mat, okay?
« Back to Glossary Index
