syete

Cebuano Word: syete

1. Part of Speech

• Numeral (cardinal number)

2. Meaning

• syete = seven
  Synonym: pito (Cebuano-based form of “seven”)

3. Is the word Cebuano-based or Spanish-based?

• syete is Spanish-derived.
• The native Cebuano form for “seven” is pito.

4. How Cebuano- and Spanish-based numbers are used

• Cebuano forms (pito, walo, siyam …)
  • Preferred in formal writing, counting objects aloud, traditional expressions, and mathematics in school.
• Spanish forms (syete, otso, nuwebe …)
  • Common in everyday speech for telling time (alas syete = 7 o’clock), giving phone numbers, prices, bus or jeepney route numbers, and casual counting when people switch rapidly between Cebuano and Tagalog.
  • Often combined with the Spanish preposition alas for clock time and the counter kuwatro (4) etc.

Tip: Many speakers mix both systems freely, so you will hear “alas syete” but also “pito ka oras” (“seven hours”).

5. Common Collocations

• alas syete – 7 o’clock
• syete ka buok – seven pieces
• syete ka adlaw – seven days
• syete pesos – seven pesos
• syete anyos – seven years old

6. Common Mistakes to Watch For (bullet list = five main pitfalls)

• Confusing syete with siete (Spanish spelling) in Cebuano sentences.
• Using syete inside purely formal Cebuano essays where pito is expected.
• Forgetting the linker ka when counting items (✗ “syete libro” → ✓ “syete ka libro”).
• Mixing Spanish clock-time pattern with Cebuano syntax (✗ “pito alas” → ✓ “alas syete”).
• Plural-marking the numeral (✗ “syetes ka tawo” → ✓ “syete ka tawo”).

7. Five Frequently Used Conversational Phrases

• Alas syete na. – It is already seven o’clock.
• Magkita ta ug syete ka adlaw gikan karon. – Let us meet seven days from now.
• Tag-syete pesos ra ni. – This is only seven pesos each.
• Na-late ko; nisaka ang plete ngadto sa syete. – I was late; the fare went up to seven.
• Syete ka buok ang imong baso? – Are your glasses seven pieces?

8. Five Short Everyday Conversations

1. A: Alas syete na ba, Ma?
   B: Oo, alas syete pasado na.
   A: Is it seven o’clock, Mom?
   B: Yes, it is a little past seven.
2. A: Pila kabuok imong isda?
   B: Syete ka buok tanan.
   A: How many fish do you have?
   B: I have seven in all.
3. A: Unsa oras ta magkita ugma?
   B: Alas syete sa buntag.
   A: What time shall we meet tomorrow?
   B: Seven in the morning.
4. A: Tag-pila ning mangga?
   B: Tag-syete pesos ra.
   A: How much are these mangoes?
   B: Only seven pesos each.
5. A: Kapila ka naka-adto didto?
   B: Murag syete ka beses na.
   A: How many times have you been there?
   B: About seven times.

9. Multiple-Choice Dialogue Questions

Q1. Unsa oras magsugod ang klase?
A. Magsugod alas syete ang klase.
B. Syete magsugod alas ang klase.
C. Alas ang klase syete magsugod.

Q2. Pila ka buok ang prutas sa lamesa?
A. Syete ka buok prutas ang naa sa lamesa.
B. Prutas ka syete buok ang naa sa lamesa.
C. Syete ang prutas buok ka naa sa lamesa.

Q3. Tag-pila ang usa ka itlog?
A. Tag-syete pesos ang usa ka itlog.
B. Usa tag-ang itlog syete pesos.
C. Syete tag-pesos ang usa ka itlog.

Q4. Pila ka adlaw ang seminar?
A. Syete ka adlaw ang seminar.
B. Adlaw syete ka ang seminar.
C. Syete seminar ka adlaw ang.

Q5. Pila na ka tuig si Ana?
A. Syete anyos na si Ana.
B. Ana syete anyos na si.
C. Anyos syete si Ana na.

Answer Key

• Q1: Sentence A is correct. It follows the Cebuano order “verb + time expression + subject.”
• Q2: Sentence A is correct. It keeps the pattern “numeral + linker ka + noun + subject marker ang + location phrase.”
• Q3: Sentence A is correct. The form “Tag-syete pesos” comes first, then the item being priced.
• Q4: Sentence A is correct. Standard counting uses “numeral + ka + noun” before the subject.
• Q5: Sentence A is correct. Age statements use “numeral + anyos + na + subject.”