singkwenta

1. Part of Speech, Meaning, and Example Sentences

• Part of Speech: numeral (cardinal)
• Meaning: “singkwenta” = fifty (50)
• Example Sentences
  • Naay singkwenta ka silya sa awditoryum. – There are fifty chairs in the auditorium.
  • Mopalit ko ug singkwenta ka itlog. – I will buy fifty eggs.
  • Ang bayad kay singkwenta pesos. – The fee is fifty pesos.

2. Number Origin

• Spanish-based loanword (from Spanish cincuenta).
• The native Bisaya form for 50 is kalim-an.

3. Cebuano- vs Spanish-Based Numbers

• Native series (e.g., kalim-an = 50, kalim-an ug usa = 51) is used in traditional or formal settings, children’s rhymes, and some rural speech.
• Spanish series (singkwenta, singkwenta uno, singkwenta dos …) dominates in
  • money, prices, and wages
  • dates, page numbers, and time expressions
  • everyday urban conversation and broadcast media
• Mixing the two systems inside one compound number is avoided (say singkwenta dos, not kalim-an ug dos).

4. Detailed Usage Notes

• Spoken contractions “sinkwenta / sinkuenta” are common; “singkwenta” is the standard spelling.
• Always insert the classifier ka before a counted noun: singkwenta ka tawo.
• For time, place ug/og after the hour: alas sais ug singkwenta (6:50).
• It can stand alone to answer a price or quantity question: “Singkwenta.”

5. Five Common Pitfalls

1. Using informal spellings (sinkwenta) in formal writing.
2. Mixing systems (kalim-an ug singko ✗).
3. Stressing the wrong syllable (síng-kwen-ta, not sing-kwen-tá).
4. Dropping ka with counted nouns (singkwenta libro ✗ → singkwenta ka libro ✓).
5. Forgetting the unit in money (singkwenta ✗ → singkwenta pesos ✓).

6. Common Collocations

• singkwenta pesos – fifty pesos
• singkwenta ka minuto – fifty minutes
• singkwenta anyos – fifty years old
• singkwenta ka adlaw – fifty days
• singkwenta ka estudyante – fifty students

7. Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Misspelling as cincuenta or sinkuenta.
• Adding mga before the numeral (mga singkwenta ka …).
• Forgetting ug in time expressions (alas siyete singkwenta ✗).
• Saying singkwenta lima for 55 instead of singkwenta singko.
• Using Arabic numerals with Cebuano syntax in formal prose (50 ka minuto).

8. Five Frequent Conversational Phrases

• Singkwenta tanan. – It is fifty in total.
• Na-late ko ug singkwenta ka minuto. – I was fifty minutes late.
• Singkwenta ra gyod! – Make it just fifty!
• Singkwenta ang akong edad. – I am fifty years old.
• Quota kay singkwenta ka buok. – The quota is fifty pieces.

9. Five Simple Everyday Conversation Exchanges

1. A: Pila ang pamasahe? – How much is the fare?
   B: Singkwenta pesos ra. – Only fifty pesos.
2. A: Tag-pila ning mansanas? – How much are these apples?
   B: Singkwenta pesos ang kilo. – Fifty pesos per kilo.
3. A: Unsa kadugay ang presentasyon? – How long is the presentation?
   B: *Mga singkwenta ka minuto. – About fifty minutes.
4. A: Pila kabuok bisita? – How many guests are there?
   B: *Naay singkwenta ka bisita. – There are fifty guests.
5. A: Unsang oras nagsugod ang salida? – What time did the show start?
   B: Alas otso ug singkwenta. – At 8:50.

10. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Pila ang imong allowance? – How much is your allowance?
A. Allowance akong singkwenta pesos.
B. Singkwenta pesos akong allowance.
C. Pesos allowance singkwenta akong.

Q2. Pila ka adlaw ang seminar? – How many days is the seminar?
A. Ka adlaw singkwenta.
B. Singkwenta adlaw ka.
C. Singkwenta ka adlaw.

Q3. Unsa kadugay ang biyahe? – How long is the trip?
A. Singkwenta ka minuto ang biyahe.
B. Ka minuto singkwenta ang biyahe.
C. Ang biyahe singkwenta ka minuto ang.

Q4. Pila kabuok estudyante sa klase? – How many students are in the class?
A. Estudyante singkwenta ka naa.
B. Naa singkwenta ka estudyante ka.
C. Singkwenta ka estudyante naa.

Q5. Unsang oras ka miabot? – What time did you arrive?
A. Miabot ko singkwenta alas dos ug.
B. Alas dos ug singkwenta ko miabot.
C. Ko miabot singkwenta ug alas dos.

Answer Key