1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of speech: numeral (cardinal)
- Meaning: “nwebe syentos” = nine hundred (900)
| Cebuano | English |
|---|---|
| Naay nwebe syentos ka upuan sa auditorio. | There are nine hundred seats in the auditorium. |
| Nag-order sila ug nwebe syentos ka itlog. | They ordered nine hundred eggs. |
| Ang kantidad kay nwebe syentos pesos. | The amount is nine hundred pesos. |
2. Number Origin
- Spanish-based (from Spanish novecientos).
- Native Bisaya counterpart: siyam ka gatos (used only in very formal or traditional contexts).
3. Cebuano vs Spanish Numerals
| Aspect | Native series (e.g., siyam ka gatos) | Spanish series (e.g., nwebe syentos) |
|---|---|---|
| Domains | Folk songs, ceremonial counting, rural elders | Money, dates, pagination, everyday speech |
| Structure | “<digit> ka gatos” | “<Spanish hundreds> (nwebe syentos)” |
| Mixing | Rarely mixed inside one number | Dominant in most modern contexts |
4. Detailed Usage Notes
- Spelling & pronunciation: formal nwebe syentos /ˈnwɛ.be ˈʃɛn.tos/; colloquial nuyb’ syentos.
- Classifier ka is obligatory with counted nouns: nwebe syentos ka libro.
- Playful time jokes: alas otso ug nwebe syentos (8 : 900—obviously humorous).
- Stands alone as a quick reply for amounts: “Nwebe syentos.”
5. Five Common Pitfalls
| # | Pitfall | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Using Spanish spelling novecientos | Use Cebuano nwebe syentos |
| 2 | Mixing systems (siyam ka gatos ug bente) | Stick to one system |
| 3 | Stress error (nwe-be syen-TÓS) | NWÉ-be SYÉN-tos |
| 4 | Dropping ka before nouns (nwebe syentos saging) | nwebe syentos ka saging |
| 5 | Omitting the unit in prices | Say nwebe syentos pesos |
6. Common Collocations
- nwebe syentos pesos – ₱900
- nwebe syentos ka minuto – 900 minutes
- nwebe syentos ka adlaw – 900 days
- nwebe syentos anyos – 900 years old (hyperbole)
- nwebe syentos ka piraso – 900 pieces
7. Common Mistakes & Warnings
- Misspellings: nubenta syentos, nwebe syentus.
- Adding mga before the numeral (mga nwebe syentos ka …).
- Using digits only in formal text (900 ka minuto) without the word form.
- Forgetting ug in time jokes (alas nuwebe nwebe syentos ✗).
- Saying syentos nwebe for 900 (backwards).
8. Five Conversational Phrases
- Nwebe syentos tanan. – It totals 900.
- Na-late ko ug nwebe syentos ka minuto. – I was 900 minutes late.
- Nwebe syentos ra gyod! – Make it just 900!
- Nwebe syentos ang budget. – The budget is 900.
- Quota kay nwebe syentos ka buok. – The quota is 900 pieces.
9. Five Mini-Dialogues
| # | Cebuano | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A: Pila ang pamasahe? B: Nwebe syentos pesos ra. | How much is the fare? – Only ₱900. |
| 2 | A: Tag-pila ning mansanas? B: Nwebe syentos pesos ang kilo. | How much are the apples? – ₱900 per kilo. |
| 3 | A: Unsa kadugay ang klase? B: Mga nwebe syentos ka minuto. | How long is the class? – About 900 minutes. |
| 4 | A: Pila kabuok bisita? B: Naay nwebe syentos ka bisita. | How many guests? – There are 900. |
| 5 | A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang salida? B: Alas siyete ug nwebe syentos. (joke) | What time did the show start? – 7 : 900 (just kidding). |
10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions
Q1. Pila ang imong allowance? – How much is your allowance?
A. Pesos allowance nwebe syentos akong.
B. Allowance akong nwebe syentos pesos.
C. Nwebe syentos pesos akong allowance.
Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang seminar? – How many days is the seminar?
A. Nwebe syentos ka adlaw.
B. Nwebe syentos adlaw ka.
C. Ka adlaw nwebe syentos.
Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? – How long is the trip?
A. Ka minuto nwebe syentos ang biyahe.
B. Nwebe syentos ka minuto ang biyahe.
C. Ang biyahe nwebe syentos ka minuto ang.
Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? – How many students are in the class?
A. Estudyante nwebe syentos ka naa.
B. Naa nwebe syentos ka estudyante ka.
C. Nwebe syentos ka estudyante naa.
Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? – What time did you arrive?
A. Nwebe syentos ko miabot alas dos ug.
B. Ko miabot nwebe syentos ug alas dos.
C. Alas dos ug nwebe syentos ko miabot.
Answer Key
| Q | Correct | Reason (simple English) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Order = numeral + pesos + “akong allowance.” |
| 2 | A | Pattern = numeral + ka + noun. |
| 3 | B | Sequence = numeral + ka + minutes + topic noun. |
| 4 | C | Numeral phrase comes before naa. |
| 5 | C | Time format “Alas [hour] ug [minutes].” |
