1 Part of speech, core meaning, sentence position, and example sentences
- Part of speech
- Sentence-position rule
A conjugated luto form normally begins the predicate, and any clitic actor-pronoun follows it: Mo-luto ko ug sinigang karong gabii.
I will cook sinigang tonight. - Example sentences
- Mo-luto ko ug adobo ugma sa paniudto. — I will cook adobo tomorrow for lunch.
- Nag-luto sila sa kusina kada Sabado. — They cook in the kitchen every Saturday.
- Gi-lutuan sa Lola ang mga apo og champorado. — The grandchildren were cooked champorado by Grandma.
- Gi-lutuan – Verb, locative/beneficiary focus, past
- sa Lola – Genitive phrase (actor)
- ang mga apo – Beneficiary phrase “the grandchildren”
- og champorado – Object phrase “champorado”
2 Verb derivations of luto
| Form | Voice & aspect | Typical translation | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| mag-luto | Actor focus, habitual / future | “will (habitually) cook” | Mag-luto sila og pancit kada pista. — They cook pancit every fiesta. |
| mo-luto | Actor focus, non-past / imperative | “will cook; cook!” | Mo-luto ta karon aron makakaon ta sayo. — Let’s cook now so we can eat early. |
| nag-luto | Actor focus, progressive / recent past | “is / was cooking” | Nag-luto siya pag-text nimo. — She was cooking when you texted. |
| mi-luto / ni-luto | Actor focus, completed past | “cooked” | Ni-luto ko ug sinigang kagahapon. — I cooked sinigang yesterday. |
| gi-luto | Patient focus, completed past | “was cooked (by …)” | Gi-luto sa chef ang espesyal nga ulam. — The special dish was cooked by the chef. |
| lut-on (-on) | Patient focus, future / imperative | “to be cooked / cook it” | Lut-on nato ang arroz caldo inig ulan. — We’ll cook arroz caldo when it rains. |
| lutuan (-an) | Locative / beneficiary focus | “to cook for / cook at” | Lutu-i siya ug sabaw, palihog. — Please cook soup for him. |
3 Common phrases
- luto sa kaldero — cook in a pot
- mag-luto og kan-on — cook rice
- gi-luto sa restaurant — cooked by the restaurant
- lut-on ang baboy — cook the pork
- lutuan sa fiesta — place where food is cooked for the fiesta
4 Detailed usage notes
- Actor-focus everyday use — mo-/nag-/ni-luto center on the cook.
- Patient focus — gi-luto, lut-on foreground what’s being cooked: gi-luto ang tinola.
- Locative / beneficiary focus — lutuan / lutu-i highlight for whom or where cooking occurs.
- Duration & tools — You can add implements: nag-luto siya pinaagi sa pressure cooker.
- Reduplication — luto-luto often means casual home cooking or experimenting with recipes.
5 Common mistakes & how to avoid them
| Mistake | Issue | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Mo-luto ako sa pansit. | Actor clitic misplaced. | Mo-luto ko ug pancit. |
| Gi-luto ko ang isda. | With gi-, actor must be genitive (ni / sa). | Gi-luto ni ko ang isda. |
| Lut-on ta siya! | Beneficiary/locative command needs lutu-i. | Lutu-i siya! |
6 Short everyday conversations
- A: Unsa imong lut-on karon? — What will you cook today?
B: Mo-luto ko og tinola kay tugnaw. — I’ll cook chicken tinola because it’s cold. - A: Nag-luto ba si Mama sa kusina? — Is Mom cooking in the kitchen?
B: Oo, nag-luto siya ug humba. — Yes, she’s cooking pork humba. - A: Lutu-i ko palihog ug noodles. — Please cook noodles for me.
B: Sige, mahuman ni after five minutes. — Sure, it will be done in five minutes. - A: Nganong ni-luto ka ug daghan kaayo? — Why did you cook so much?
B: Nag-expect ko ug bisita unya. — I’m expecting visitors later. - A: Mag-luto ta og sinugbang isda sa baybayon? — Shall we grill fish at the beach?
B: Oo, dad-a lang ang uling ug sugod ta sa hapon. — Yes, just bring charcoal and we’ll start in the afternoon.
