otsenta

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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

  1. Writing pure-Spanish ochenta in Cebuano contexts.
  2. Mixing native and Spanish roots (kawaloan ug singko ✗).
  3. Wrong stress (correct o-tsén-ta, not ot-sen-tá).
  4. Dropping ka with nouns (otsenta libro ✗ → otsenta ka libro ✓).
  5. Forgetting the unit when talking about money (otsenta ✗ → otsenta pesos ✓).

6. Common Collocations


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

  1. A: Pila ang pamasahe? — How much is the fare?
    B: Otsenta pesos ra. — Only eighty pesos.
  2. A: Tag-pila ning apples? — How much are these apples?
    B: Otsenta pesos ang kilo. — Eighty pesos per kilo.
  3. A: Unsa kadugay ang lecture? — How long is the lecture?
    B: Mga otsenta ka minuto. — About eighty minutes.
  4. A: Pila kabuok bisita? — How many guests are there?
    B: Naay otsenta ka bisita. — There are eighty guests.
  5. 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].”
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