kiri, kari

English – “kiri / kari”

Part of speech & meaning
• Demonstrative; functions as a pronoun or a determiner/adverb, depending on spelling
• General sense: “this / here (by me)” – an older or dialectal alternative to kini (this) and dinhi (here)
• kiri – most often used like kini before a noun (“this …”)
• kari – often used adverbially for motion toward, roughly “to this place,” similar to anhi/ari

Contracted form
• No contraction. Both spellings already represent shortened historical forms (kini → kiri, *kari ← “kâri ngari” in older Bisaya).

Typical sentence place
• As determiner: kiri + nga + noun kiri nga adlaw = “this day”
• As pronoun/adverb: after a verb or preposition Mo-ari ka kari ugma? = “Will you come over here tomorrow?”

Common collocations

• kiri nga balay – this house
• kiri nga tuig – this year
• kari lang – just (come) here
• ari kari! – come right here!

Detailed use
• Everyday urban Cebuano now prefers kini / dinhi / anhi, but kiri/kari survive in rural speech, songs, and literature.
• kiri stresses the object itself (“this book”), while kari stresses the place reached or motion toward the speaker (“over to here”).
• Because they are semi-archaic, mixing them with modern forms (kini kari) can sound odd unless used for stylistic effect.

Common mistakes
• Forgetting the linker nga after kiri when it precedes a noun (❌ kiri balay → ✔ kiri nga balay).
• Using kiri/kari for something far away; use kana/kadto or diha/didto instead.
• Over-using them in formal writing—modern Cebuano editors may replace them with kini / dinhi / anhi.

Example sentences

What is the difference between the Cebuano words “kiri” and “kari?”

1. Where they sit in the demonstrative system

Both words belong to the most-proximal set (closer than kini/kani, which can also be near the addressee).

2. What they mean

3. Why many learners only hear kari today

Modern speakers normally pick kari because it sounds conversational, whereas kiri survives mainly in old textbooks, traditional songs or careful writing. Wiktionary notes this shift directly: “kari is the form most commonly used by speakers, while kiri may come off as old-fashioned.”

4. Usage

• Static reference
  • Kiri nga lamesa lig-on kaayo. – “This table right here is very sturdy.” (object already at the speaker’s side)
• Motion toward the speaker
  • Kari diri, palihog. – “Come here, please.”
    (Many Cebuanos would use kari/ari rather than kiri in this directive sense.)
• Colloquial replacement
  • Unsay sulod ani (kari/kini) nga kahon? – “What’s inside this box?”
    In fast speech, kari or even the clipped form ri may replace older kiri.

Questions

Q1. Asa nato ibutang ang kari nga kahon?
A. Sa aparador ibutang nato ang kari nga kahon.
B. Ibutang nato ang kari nga kahon sa aparador.
C. Ang kari nga kahon sa aparador nato ibutang.

Q2. Kanus-a nimo iuli ang kari nga payong?
A. Iuli nimo ang kari nga payong ugma sa buntag.
B. Ugma sa buntag payong iuli nimo ang kari.
C. Ang kari nga payong nimo iuli ugma sa buntag.

Q3. Kinsa ang mokari diri karong hapon?
A. Karong hapon diri mokari si Ana.
B. Si Ana mokari karong hapon diri.
C. Mokari diri si Ana karong hapon.

Q4. Unsa’y sulod kari nga bag?
A. Ang kari nga bag adunay libro ug payong sa sulod.
B. Adunay libro ug payong ang sulod kari nga bag.
C. Ang bag nga kari payong ug libro sulod adunay.

Q5. Ngano kinahanglan mokari sila karon?
A. Kay naay emerhensiya kinahanglan karon sila mokari.
B. Kinahanglan sila mokari karon kay naay emerhensiya.
C. Mokari kinahanglan kay naay emerhensiya sila karon.

Answer Key & Explanations

• Q1 – Correct choice: B

• Why correct: Verb Ibutang + actor nato + object + place is the usual Cebuano order.
• Why A is wrong: Starts with the place phrase and splits verb from actor, making the clause awkward.
• Why C is wrong: Moves the object to the front and leaves the verb last, so the sentence feels jumbled.

• Q2 – Correct choice: A

• Why correct: Verb Iuli + actor nimo + object + time phrase follows natural sequencing.
• Why B is wrong: Time phrase comes first and “kari” is stranded at the end; the flow is broken.
• Why C is wrong: Places “nimo” after the noun, separating actor from verb and sounding clumsy.

• Q3 – Correct choice: C

• Why correct: Verb Mokari + place diri + subject “Si Ana” + time makes a clear declarative.
• Why A is wrong: Places time first and ends with the subject; less idiomatic.
• Why B is wrong: Ends with the place adverb, leaving the predicate split in two parts.

• Q4 – Correct choice: A

• Why correct: Starts with the focused noun phrase Ang kari nga bag, then states what it contains.
• Why B is wrong: The word “sulod” is treated as a subject and “kari” is stuck mid-phrase, so meaning is unclear.
• Why C is wrong: Scrambles noun modifiers and predicate order; difficult to understand.

• Q5 – Correct choice: B

• Why correct: Predicate Kinahanglan sila mokari karon followed by the reason clause is straightforward.
• Why A is wrong: Reason comes first and splits “kinahanglan” from the actor, making the clause heavy.
• Why C is wrong: Mixes predicate parts so the logical link between “kinahanglan” and “mokari” is lost.