nobenta’y nwebe

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of Speech: numeral (cardinal)
• Meaning: “nobenta’y nwebe” = ninety-nine (99)

Example sentences

• Naay nobenta’y nwebe ka bata sa eskuylahan. — There are ninety-nine children at the school.
• Mipalit sila ug nobenta’y nwebe ka libro. — They bought ninety-nine books.
• Ang bayad kay nobenta’y nwebe pesos. — The fee is ninety-nine pesos.

2. Number Origin

• Spanish-based loanword (Spanish noventa y nueve).
• Native Bisaya form: kasiyam-ug-siyam (rare, very formal).

3. Cebuano vs Spanish Numerals

• Native series (e.g., kasiyaman = 90, kasiyam-ug-siyam = 99) appears in folk songs and some rural speech.
• Spanish series (nobenta, nobenta’y nwebe, nobenta’y otso …) rules in prices, dates, page numbers, time references, and everyday urban talk.
• Do not mix the two systems inside one compound number (✓ nobenta’y nwebe, ✗ kasiyaman ug nwebe).

4. Detailed Usage Notes

• Colloquial spellings “nubenta’y nwebe / noventa’y nwebe” exist; “nobenta’y nwebe” is preferred in Cebuano orthography.
• Always insert classifier ka before a counted noun: nobenta’y nwebe ka tawo.
• In playful time jokes: alas onse ug nobenta’y nwebe (11:99 → 12:39).
• Can stand alone as a quick reply about quantity or cost: “Nobenta’y nwebe.”

5. Five Common Pitfalls

1. Writing the pure-Spanish spelling noventa y nueve in Cebuano texts.
2. Mixing native and Spanish roots (kasiyaman ug nwebe ✗).
3. Misplaced stress (correct no-bén-ta’y nwé-be).
4. Dropping ka with nouns (nobenta’y nwebe libro ✗).
5. Forgetting the unit for money (nobenta’y nwebe ✗ → nobenta’y nwebe pesos ✓).

6. Common Collocations

• nobenta’y nwebe pesos — ninety-nine pesos
• nobenta’y nwebe ka minuto — ninety-nine minutes
• nobenta’y nwebe anyos — ninety-nine years old
• nobenta’y nwebe ka adlaw — ninety-nine days
• nobenta’y nwebe ka piraso — ninety-nine pieces

7. Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Misspelling (nubenta’y nwebe, noventa’y nwebe).
• Adding mga before the numeral (mga nobenta’y nwebe ka …).
• Forgetting ug in time (alas diyes nobenta’y nwebe ✗).
• Saying nobenta nove for 99 instead of nobenta’y nwebe.
• Using Arabic numerals plus ka in formal prose (99 ka minuto) without words.

8. Five Frequent Conversational Phrases

• Nobenta’y nwebe tanan. — It is ninety-nine in total.
• Na-late ko ug nobenta’y nwebe ka minuto. — I was ninety-nine minutes late.
• Nobenta’y nwebe ra gyod! — Make it just ninety-nine!
• Nobenta’y nwebe ang akong edad. — I am ninety-nine years old.
• Quota kay nobenta’y nwebe ka buok. — The quota is ninety-nine pieces.

9. Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Pila ang pamasahe? — How much is the fare?
   B: Nobenta’y nwebe pesos ra. — Only ninety-nine pesos.
2. A: Tag-pila ning mangga? — How much are these mangoes?
   B: Nobenta’y nwebe pesos ang kilo. — Ninety-nine pesos per kilo.
3. A: Unsa kadugay ang klase? — How long is the class?
   B: Mga nobenta’y nwebe ka minuto. — About ninety-nine minutes.
4. A: Pila kabuok bisita? — How many guests are there?
   B: Naay nobenta’y nwebe ka bisita. — There are ninety-nine guests.
5. A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang salida? — What time did the show start?
   B: Alas nuwebe ug nobenta’y nwebe (joking). — At 9:99 (meaning around 10:39, humorously).

10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Pila ang imong allowance? — How much is your allowance?
A. Pesos allowance nobenta’y nwebe akong.
B. Nobenta’y nwebe pesos akong allowance.
C. Allowance akong nobenta’y nwebe pesos.

Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang field trip? — How many days is the field trip?
A. Nobenta’y nwebe ka adlaw.
B. Ka adlaw nobenta’y nwebe.
C. Nobenta’y nwebe adlaw ka.

Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? — How long is the trip?
A. Ang biyahe nobenta’y nwebe ka minuto ang.
B. Nobenta’y nwebe ka minuto ang biyahe.
C. Ka minuto nobenta’y nwebe ang biyahe.

Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? — How many students are in the class?
A. Estudyante nobenta’y nwebe ka naa.
B. Naa nobenta’y nwebe ka estudyante ka.
C. Nobenta’y nwebe ka estudyante naa.

Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? — What time did you arrive?
A. Miabot ko nobenta’y nwebe alas dos ug.
B. Ko miabot nobenta’y nwebe ug alas dos.
C. Alas dos ug nobenta’y nwebe ko miabot.

Answer Key

• Q1 – B — Correct order: numeral + pesos + “akong allowance.”
• Q2 – A — Proper counting: numeral + ka + noun.
• Q3 – B — Sequence: numeral + ka + minutes + topic noun.
• Q4 – C — Numeral phrase precedes existential naa.
• Q5 – C — Cebuano time format: “Alas [hour] ug [minutes].”