1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences
- Part of Speech: numeral (cardinal)
- Meaning: “otsenta” = eighty (80)
Example sentences
- Naay otsenta ka silya sa awditoryum. — There are eighty chairs in the auditorium.
- Mopalit ko ug otsenta ka itlog ugma. — I will buy eighty eggs tomorrow.
- Ang bayad kay otsenta pesos ra. — The fee is only eighty pesos.
2. Number Origin
- Spanish-based loanword (from Spanish ochenta).
- The native Cebuano form for 80 is kawaloan.
3. Cebuano- vs Spanish-Based Numbers
- Native series (e.g., kawaloan = 80; kawaloan ug usa = 81) appears in formal counting, folk songs, and some rural speech.
- Spanish series (otsenta, otsenta uno, otsenta dos …) dominates in prices, dates, page numbers, time references, and ordinary urban conversation.
- Do not mix the two systems inside one compound number (✓ otsenta dos, ✗ kawaloan ug dos).
4. Detailed Usage Notes
- Colloquial spellings “otsinta / ochenta” occur, but “otsenta” is standard Cebuano orthography.
- Insert the classifier ka before the counted noun: otsenta ka tawo.
- In playful time-talk you may hear alas siyete ug otsenta (7:80 → 8:20).
- Can stand alone as a short answer about cost or quantity: “Otsenta.”
5. Five Common Pitfalls
- Writing pure-Spanish ochenta in Cebuano contexts.
- Mixing native and Spanish roots (kawaloan ug singko ✗).
- Wrong stress (correct o-tsén-ta, not ot-sen-tá).
- Dropping ka with nouns (otsenta libro ✗ → otsenta ka libro ✓).
- Forgetting the unit when talking about money (otsenta ✗ → otsenta pesos ✓).
6. Common Collocations
- otsenta pesos — eighty pesos
- otsenta ka minuto — eighty minutes
- otsenta anyos — eighty years old
- otsenta ka adlaw — eighty days
- otsenta ka piraso — eighty pieces
7. Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Misspelling as otsinta / ochenta in formal writing.
- Adding mga before the numeral (mga otsenta ka …).
- Forgetting ug in time expressions (alas dyes otsenta ✗).
- Saying otsenta lima for 85 instead of otsenta singko.
- Writing Arabic numerals with Cebuano syntax in formal prose (80 ka minuto).
8. Five Frequent Conversational Phrases
• Otsenta tanan. — It is eighty in total.
• Na-late ko ug otsenta ka minuto. — I was eighty minutes late.
• Otsenta ra gyod! — Make it just eighty!
• Otsenta ang akong edad. — I am eighty years old.
• Quota kay otsenta ka buok. — The quota is eighty pieces.
9. Five Everyday Conversation Exchanges
- A: Pila ang pamasahe? — How much is the fare?
B: Otsenta pesos ra. — Only eighty pesos. - A: Tag-pila ning apples? — How much are these apples?
B: Otsenta pesos ang kilo. — Eighty pesos per kilo. - A: Unsa kadugay ang lecture? — How long is the lecture?
B: Mga otsenta ka minuto. — About eighty minutes. - A: Pila kabuok bisita? — How many guests are there?
B: Naay otsenta ka bisita. — There are eighty guests. - A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang salida? — What time did the show start?
B: Alas siyete ug otsenta. — At 7:80 (said jokingly to mean 8:20).
10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions
Q1. Pila ang imong allowance karon? — How much is your allowance now?
A. Allowance akong otsenta pesos.
B. Pesos allowance otsenta akong.
C. Otsenta pesos akong allowance.
Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang workshop? — How many days is the workshop?
A. Otsenta adlaw ka.
B. Otsenta ka adlaw.
C. Ka adlaw otsenta.
Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? — How long is the trip?
A. Otsenta ka minuto ang biyahe.
B. Ka minuto otsenta ang biyahe.
C. Ang biyahe otsenta ka minuto ang.
Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? — How many students are in the class?
A. Estudyante otsenta ka naa.
B. Otsenta ka estudyante naa.
C. Naa otsenta ka estudyante ka.
Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? — What time did you arrive?
A. Miabot ko otsenta alas dos ug.
B. Ko miabot otsenta ug alas dos.
C. Alas dos ug otsenta ko miabot.
Answer Key
- Q1 – C Correct Cebuano order: numeral + pesos + “akong allowance.”
- Q2 – B Standard counting: numeral + ka + noun.
- Q3 – A Sequence: numeral + ka + minutes + topic noun.
- Q4 – B Numeral phrase precedes existential naa.
- Q5 – C Time pattern “Alas [hour] ug [minutes].”