madugay

Cebuano word: “madugay”
(ma-DU-gay) – an adverb (and sometimes stative verb) that signals “(after) a long time / it will take long”. In negative form (dili madugay) it flips to mean “before long / soon.”

1. Part of speech, meaning, and example sentences

• Part of speech: adverb of time / inchoative stative (ma- + dugay “long time”)
• Core meaning: an event will happen only after a long interval or “will not happen quickly.”
• Example sentences
  • Madugay pa ko maka-uli. – “It will still be a long time before I can go home.”
  • Dili madugay, muabot na sila. – “Before long, they will arrive.”
  • Kung mag-hulat ka, madugay ka ma-serve. – “If you wait, it will take long before you’re served.”

2. Tips for mastering “madugay” in time-talk

• Positive vs. negative:
  • madugay = “it will be late / take long.”
  • dili madugay = “it won’t be long / soon.”
• Position rule: place it right before the verb (madugay ko mo-abot) or after the subject (Si Ana madugay ma-human).
• Contrast pair: madugay ↔ sayó (“late vs. early”).
• Avoid redundancy: do not pair with explicit hours; instead say madugay pa ang alas-tres (“three o’clock is still far off”).
• Softening: add pa for “still”: madugay pa (“still a long time from now”).

3. Common collocations

• madugay pa – still a long time
• dili madugay – before long / soon
• madugay gyud – really a long time
• madugay nga paghulat – a long wait
• basin madugay – it might take long

4. Typical sentence slots

1. After subject: Ang bus madugay mo-abot.
2. Before verb group: Madugay pa mo-buka ang tindahan.
3. Sentence-final (contrast or warning): Di ka gusto ma-late? Mahuman ka, madugay.

5. Five everyday conversational phrases

• Madugay pa ang salida; relax sa ta. – “The movie is still far off; let’s relax first.”
• Dili madugay, mu-text ko nimo. – “I’ll text you soon.”
• Ayaw pag-sakay anang linya kay madugay ka maka-abot. – “Don’t take that line because you will arrive late.”
• Kung mag-ulan, madugay ang biyahe. – “When it rains, the trip takes long.”
• Ma-ayo unta dili madugay ang approval. – “I hope the approval won’t take long.”

6. Five short dialogue exchanges (Cebuano → English)

1. A: Human na ang report?
   B: Madugay pa gamay, naa pay figures nga i-check.
   – “A: Is the report finished? B: Not for a while; I still have figures to check.”
2. A: Kanus-a ka mo-abot?
   B: Dili madugay, naa na ko sa jeep.
   – “A: When will you arrive? B: Soon, I’m already on the jeep.”
3. A: Moadto ba ta karon?
   B: Ayaw lang, madugay kaayo ang linya karon.
   – “A: Shall we go now? B: Better not, the line is very long right now.”
4. A: Gi-unsa nimo pag-kuha sa visa?
   B: Madugay gyud ang proseso, halos duha ka buwan.
   – “A: How did you get the visa? B: The process really took a long time—almost two months.”
5. A: Makahinabi ba tika unya?
   B: Oo, dili madugay human sa miting.
   – “A: Can I talk with you later? B: Yes, not long after the meeting.”

7. Multiple-choice dialogue questions

Q1. Unsa’y mahitabo madugay pa human party?
A. Madugay pa mahitabo ang pag-clean-up human party.
B. Mahitabo madugay pa ang pag-clean-up human party.
C. Human party pag-clean-up mahitabo madugay pa.

Q2. Maabot ba ang bus dili madugay?
A. Dili madugay maabot ang bus.
B. Maabot dili madugay ang bus.
C. Bus maabot dili madugay ang.

Q3. Kinsa’y madugay mo-human sa exam?
A. Si Leo madugay mo-human sa exam.
B. Madugay mo-human si Leo sa exam.
C. Sa exam madugay si Leo mo-human.

Q4. Ganahan ba ka mo-lakaw madugay pa sa buntag?
A. Ganahan ko madugay pa mo-lakaw sa buntag.
B. Madugay pa ganahan ko mo-lakaw sa buntag.
C. Sa buntag ganahan ko mo-lakaw madugay pa.

Q5. Mahuman ba ang proyekto madugay gyud?
A. Mahuman ang proyekto madugay gyud.
B. Proyekto mahuman madugay gyud ang.
C. Madugay gyud mahuman ang proyekto.

Answer key & quick reasons

• Q1 – A – Adverb phrase (madugay pa) follows verb; clear sequence subject–verb–object–time.
• Q2 – A – Negative adverb dili madugay right before verb group is natural.
• Q3 – C – Locative/time phrase first for focus, then subject + verb is acceptable storytelling order.
• Q4 – B – Adverb inside preference clause is fine; others split predicate awkwardly.
• Q5 – C – Adverb first for emphasis, then verb + subject; A is acceptable but not as smooth; C best matches neutral emphasis.