kaha

Cebuano Word: kaha

1 Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of speech: adverb / discourse particle (speculation, wonder)
• Core meaning: “perhaps,” “maybe,” “I wonder” — signals uncertainty or conjecture.

Example sentences

• Asa kaha siya karon? — I wonder where he is now.
• Mahuman kaha nato ni karong adlaw-a? — Can we perhaps finish this today?
• Mahal kaha ang bayad? — Maybe the fee is expensive.

2 Learning Points for Cebuano Adverbs (focus on kaha)

1. Speculative marker – kaha shows the speaker is guessing or doubting.
2. Position – usually follows an interrogative word or the verb it qualifies (“Unsa kaha”, “Moadto kaha”).
3. No commitment – softens statements; useful for polite inquiries.
4. Do not pair with certainty particles like gyud; they conflict in tone.
5. Invariable – kaha never changes form or tense.

3 Common Collocations

• asa kaha – where might …
• unsa kaha – what might …
• kinsa kaha – who might …
• kanus-a kaha – when might …
• pila kaha – how much / how many perhaps …

4 Typical Sentence Position

• After question words: “Kinsay mo-uban kaha?”
• After the verb in declarative speculation: “Mo-ulan kaha ugma.”

5 Five Frequently Used Conversational Phrases

• “Unsa kaha’y angay buhaton?” — What should we do, I wonder?
• “Asa kaha ta mokaon unya?” — Where shall we eat later, maybe?
• “Mosugot kaha siya?” — Will she agree, you think?
• “Makaabot kaha ta sa oras?” — Might we arrive on time?
• “Di kaha ni lisod?” — Maybe this isn’t difficult?

6 Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Makauwan kaha karong hapon?
   B: Posible kaha, kay dagom ang panganod.
   A: Might it rain this afternoon?
   B: Maybe, since the clouds are dark.
2. A: Mahuman kaha nimo ang report?
   B: Sulayan nako, pero tingali dili kaha ko makaya tanan.
   A: Can you finish the report, you think?
   B: I’ll try, but I might not manage everything.
3. A: Asa kaha ta magulan-ulan ugma?
   B: Sa bukid bahin siguro, kay tugnaw kaha didto.
   A: Where might it drizzle tomorrow?
   B: Probably in the highlands, it’s maybe cooler there.
4. A: Kinsa kaha ang modaog sa dula?
   B: Ang Tigers kaha kay kusog ilang depensa.
   A: Who do you think will win the game?
   B: Maybe the Tigers because their defense is strong.
5. A: Mahal kaha ang bag-ong café?
   B: Di kaha kaayo; promo pa man daw karon.
   A: Is the new café expensive, perhaps?
   B: Maybe not too much; they say it’s still on promo.

7 Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Nidaug kaha si Mark sa kompetisyon?
A. Si Mark nidaug kaha sa kompetisyon.
B. Nidaug si Mark sa kompetisyon kaha.
C. Nidaug kaha si Mark sa kompetisyon.

Q2. Mahuman kaha nato ang trabaho karon?
A. Mahuman ang trabaho nato kaha karon.
B. Mahuman kaha nato ang trabaho karon.
C. Karon mahuman nato ang trabaho kaha.

Q3. Asa kaha sila magtapok unya?
A. Asa kaha sila magtapok unya.
B. Magtapok sila unya asa kaha.
C. Sila asa magtapok kaha unya.

Q4. Mosugot kaha ang boss sa plano?
A. Mosugot ang boss sa plano kaha.
B. Ang boss mosugot sa plano kaha.
C. Mosugot kaha ang boss sa plano.

Q5. Pila kaha ang bayad sa tuition?
A. Ang bayad sa tuition pila kaha.
B. Pila kaha ang bayad sa tuition.
C. Bayad pila ang tuition kaha.

Answer Key

• Q1 – C Verb nidaug then kaha, subject, object — proper speculative order.
• Q2 – B Predicate mahuman plus kaha before actor; other choices misplace kaha.
• Q3 – A Question word asa first, kaha after it, clause continues; B and C break sequence.
• Q4 – C Verb mosugot followed by kaha, subject, object; A & B move particle away from verb.
• Q5 – B Interrogative pila with kaha immediately after, subject follows; others misorder elements.