Cebuano Word: lalaki — man, male person
1. Part of Speech
- Noun
2. Singular & Plural
3. Typical Position in a Sentence
As a common noun, lalaki usually appears:
- After the topic marker when it is the subject:
- Ang lalaki nagtrabaho. ― “The man is working.”
- After the verb or preposition when it is the object or complement:
4. Common Collocations
- mga lalaki – men
- batan-ong lalaki – young man
- maayong lalaki – good man / gentleman
- lalaki nga Pilipino – Filipino man
- lalaki ug babaye – man and woman
5. Detailed Usage Notes
- Core meaning: An adult male human.
- Age nuance: If you need “boy,” use bata nga lalaki or lalaking bata.
- Descriptive linkers: Use nga to attach adjectives (e.g., daku nga lalaki “big man”).
- Gender references: In mixed-group contexts you can say mga lalaki ug mga babaye (“men and women”) to be explicit.
6. Common Mistakes to Watch For
| Mistake | Why It Happens | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Forgetting mga for plural | English speakers expect an “-s” ending. | Use mga lalaki for “men.” |
| Dropping topic markers ang/si | Direct word-for-word English translation. | Keep ang/si before a definite subject. |
| Using lalaki for “boy” | English “boy” ≠ Cebuano lalaki. | Say bata nga lalaki for a boy. |
7. Conversational Phrases
- Asa ang lalaki? — Where is the man?
(Interrogative adverb – article – noun) - Lalaki pa gihapon siya. — He is still a man (i.e., male).
(Noun – aspect marker – intensifier – pronoun) - Tabangi ang lalaki, palihug. — Help the man, please.
(Imperative verb – article – noun – courtesy word) - Kaila ka atong lalaki? — Do you know that man?
(Verb – pronoun – demonstrative – noun) - Ang lalaki nag-smile kanako. — The man smiled at me.
(Article – noun – verb – preposition – pronoun)
8. Conversation Exchanges
Conversation 1
A: Asa nagpuyo ang lalaki? — Where does the man live?
B: Nagpuyo siya sa Lapu-Lapu City. — He lives in Lapu-Lapu City.Conversation 2
A: Kinsa ang kuyog sa lalaki? — Who is with the man?
B: Ang iyang asawa kuyog niya. — His wife is with him.Conversation 3
A: Ngano nga nag-dali ang lalaki? — Why is the man in a hurry?
B: Malate siya sa trabaho. — He will be late for work.Conversation 4
A: Unsa’y gusto sa lalaki? — What does the man want?
B: Gusto siya og kape. — He wants coffee.Conversation 5
A: Kanus-a pa uli ang lalaki? — When will the man go home?
B: Mo-uli siya inig alas-nuebe. — He will go home at nine.
Question–Answer Exercise
Part 1: Questions with Shuffled Answer Choices
- Asa naglakaw ang lalaki karon?
- Unsa’y gipalit sa lalaki?
- Kinsa ang motabang sa lalaki unya?
- Kanus-a nimo nakita ang lalaki?
- Ngano nga nag-katawa ang lalaki?
Part 2: Correct Answers and Explanations
- Correct: B — Sa dalan naglakaw ang lalaki karon.
Placing the location phrase “sa dalan” first is the natural Cebuano word order. - Correct: C — Ang libro gipalit sa lalaki.
The object “ang libro” is in focus at the beginning, followed by the verb phrase. - Correct: B — Si Ana ang motabang sa lalaki unya.
The personal name “Si Ana” correctly carries the personal marker “Si,” and “ang” focuses her as the helper. - Correct: B — Kanus-a nimo nakita ang lalaki.
The interrogative adverb “Kanus-a” (when) leads; the verb “nakita” follows the pronoun “nimo.” - Correct: B — Tungod sa joke nag-katawa ang lalaki.
The causal phrase “Tungod sa joke” comes first, then the verb-subject sequence.
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