kaligo

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1 Part of speech, core meaning, and example sentences

  • Part of speech
    • Verb (colloquial root): kaligo — to bathe, take a bath, wash oneself in water
    • Common noun: kaligo — a bath, the act of bathing
  • Core meaning
    • Refers to washing the body in a shower, bucket bath, river, sea, or rain; frequently heard in the expression “Kaligo sa ko” (“I’ll take a bath first”).
  • Example sentences
    • Mo-kaligo ko sa buntag aron makamata ko ug ayo. → I take a bath in the morning to wake up well.
    • Nag-kaligo sila sa ulan kay nindot ang feeling. → They’re bathing in the rain because it feels nice.
    • Gi-kaliguan sa inahan ang bata sa balde. → The mother bathed the child in a pail.

2 Verb derivations of kaligo

FormVoice & aspectEnglish glossSample sentence
mag-kaligoActor-focus, habitual / futurewill usually batheMag-kaligo siya kada gabii antes matulog.
mo-kaligoActor-focus, non-past / imperativewill bathe; bathe!Mo-kaligo ta karon, ha.
nag-kaligoActor-focus, progressiveis / was bathingNag-kaligo ko pag-chat nimo.
ni-kaligo / mi-kaligoActor-focus, completed pastbathedNi-kaligo sila sa sapa gahapon.
gi-kaliguanPatient- / locative-focus, completed pastwas bathed in / by …Gi-kaliguan sa nurse ang pasyente.
kalig-oon (-on)Patient-focus, future / imp.to be bathed / bathe itKalig-oon nato ang iro ugma.
kalig-uan / kalig-ui (-an / -i)Locative / beneficiaryto bathe at / bathe forKalig-ui ko palihog sa baby sa batya.

Tip: In formal or textbook Cebuano, the root ligo is more common (maligo, nag-ligo). Kaligo is everyday colloquial, especially with the particle sa: “Kaligo sa ko.”

3 Typical clause placement

  • Actor-focus: Mo-kaligo ko sa dagat inig hapon.
  • Patient- / locative-focus: Gi-kaliguan ang bata sa kusina.
  • Beneficiary / locative: Kalig-ui siya sa warm water para dili tugnawon.

4 Common collocations

5 How the word is used in detail

  1. Setting & register – Very casual; fits daily chatter among friends or family. Use ligo or maligo in formal writing.
  2. Particle sa – “Kaligo sa ko” literally “Bath first I,” meaning “Let me take a bath first.”
  3. Location marker – sa for the place of bathing: nag-kaligo sa beach.
  4. Beneficiary suffixes – -an / -i highlight who or where you bathe: kalig-ui ko sa bata (“bathe the baby for me”).
  5. Figurative splash – Rare but possible: kaligo sa singot (“drenched in sweat”).

6 Common mistakes & things to watch out for

MistakeIssueCorrection
Mo-kaligo ako ug karon.Clitic ko must directly follow the verb.Mo-kaligo ko karon.
Gi-kaligo ko ang iro.gi- form needs genitive actor (ni / sa).Gi-kaliguan ni ko ang iro.
Kaligo-on ta siya!Beneficiary command should be kalig-ui.Kalig-ui siya!
Nag-kaligo sa poolSubject missing.Nag-kaligo ang mga bata sa pool.

7 Conversational phrases

  1. “Kaligo sa ko, ha.” — “Let me bathe first, okay?”
  2. “Mo-kaligo ka ron o unya?” — “Will you bathe now or later?”
  3. “Ni-kaligo ka na ba?” — “Have you bathed already?”
  4. “Mag-kaligo ta sa beach?” — “Shall we go for a swim at the beach?”
  5. “Walay kaligo, pero nanglaag!” — “No bath, yet out and about!” (teasing)

8 Everyday conversations

  1. A: Init kaayo; mo-kaligo ko balik, uy. — It’s so hot; I’ll bathe again.
    B: Sige, naa ra man tubig sa tangke. — Go ahead, there’s water in the tank.
  2. A: Nag-kaligo pa diay ka? — You’re still bathing?
    B: Oo, daghan pa ko gipang-sab-on. — Yes, still soaping up.
  3. A: Kalig-ui ko palihog sa bata, kapoy na ko. — Please bathe the baby for me; I’m tired.
    B: Sige, ako nalang bahala. — Sure, I’ll handle it.
  4. A: Ni-kaligo mo sa suba gahapon? — Did you guys swim in the river yesterday?
    B: Oo, nindot kaayo ang tubig. — Yes, the water was great.
  5. A: Mag-kaligo ta ugma sa dagat. — Let’s swim at the sea tomorrow.
    B: Ayos! Dalha ko’g sunblock ha. — Cool! Bring me sunblock, okay?
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