usahay

Cebuano word: “usahay”
an adverb that means *“sometimes / occasionally / at times.”

1. Part of speech, meaning, and example sentences

Part of speech: adverb of frequency (time)
Meaning: indicates that an action happens on some occasions but not all the time.
Example sentences

• Usahay mulangoy ko sa dagat sa buntag. – “Sometimes I swim in the sea in the morning.”
• Gahi ang trapiko sa siyudad usahay. – “Traffic in the city is heavy sometimes.”
• Usahay dili siya mokaon sa panyapon. – “He sometimes skips dinner.”

2. Tips for learning Cebuano time-frequency words

• Relative frequency scale: kanunay (“always”) → permi/pirme (“usually”) → usahay (“sometimes”) → panagsa-ra (“seldom”) → dili gyud (“never”).
• Placement pattern: frequency adverbs (usahay, kanunay, permi) normally sit right before the main verb or after the subject; avoid splitting the verb group.
• Combining with day words: you can place usahay with explicit days: Usahay kada Domingo mi mag-hike (“Sometimes we hike every Sunday”).
• Emphasis by fronting: Putting Usahay at the very start gives a softer, reflective tone.
• Avoid double negation: Dili ko usahay… sounds odd; instead say Usahay dili ko… (“Sometimes I don’t…”).

3. Common collocations

• usahay ko – I sometimes …
• usahay siya – he/she sometimes …
• usahay ra – only sometimes / just occasionally
• usahay lang – just sometimes (colloquial)
• usahay gani – sometimes even …

4. Typical sentence position

1. After the subject (neutral): Si Marco usahay mag-jogging sa park.
2. Sentence-initial (emphatic): Usahay, mag-jogging si Marco sa park.
3. Rarely sentence-final (contrast): Mag-jogging si Marco sa park usahay.

5. Five handy conversational phrases

• Usahay ba ka mag-exercise sa buntag? – “Do you sometimes exercise in the morning?”
• Usahay lang ko mokaon og ice cream. – “I only occasionally eat ice cream.”
• Usahay dili nato malikayan ang kakapoy. – “Sometimes we can’t avoid fatigue.”
• Usahay gani makalimot ko sa oras. – “I sometimes even lose track of time.”
• Salamat sa imong tabang bisan usahay ra ko mangayo nimo. – “Thank you for helping, even though I only ask you occasionally.”

6. Five short dialogue exchanges

1. A: Usahay ba ka mo-tan-aw salida sa sinehan?
   B: Oo, usahay kung naa’y nindot nga pelikula.
   – “A: Do you sometimes watch films at the cinema? B: Yes, sometimes when there’s a good movie.”
2. A: Ngano man nga usahay ka ma-late?
   B: Usahay lisod ang sakyanan sa buntag.
   – “A: Why are you late at times? B: Sometimes transport is hard in the morning.”
3. A: Usahay ba nimo tawagan imong lola?
   B: Oo, usahay kung mingawon ko niya.
   – “A: Do you call your grandmother now and then? B: Yes, sometimes when I miss her.”
4. A: Unsa imong ginakaon panihapon?
   B: Usahay salad ra kung nag-diet ko.
   – “A: What do you eat for dinner? B: Sometimes just salad when I’m on a diet.”
5. A: Mag-ulan ba diha usahay sa ting-init?
   B: Oo, usahay mu-ulan bisan mainit kaayo.
   – “A: Does it rain there occasionally in summer? B: Yes, sometimes it rains even when it’s very hot.”

7. Multiple-choice dialogue questions

Q1. Asa ka usahay mokaon sa panihapon?
A. Usahay mokaon ko sa gawas sa panihapon.
B. Mokaon ko usahay sa gawas sa panihapon.
C. Sa gawas mokaon usahay ko sa panihapon.

Q2. Unsa’y usahay nimo ginainom sa buntag?
A. Ginainom ko usahay gatas sa buntag.
B. Usahay ginainom ko gatas sa buntag.
C. Sa buntag gatas ginainom ko usahay.

Q3. Kinsa imong usahay makuyogan sa mall?
A. Makuyog ko usahay akong igsoon sa mall.
B. Usahay makuyog ko sa mall akong igsoon.
C. Akong igsoon usahay makuyog ko sa mall.

Q4. Kanus-a ka usahay mag-bakasyon?
A. Usahay mag-bakasyon ko karong Disyembre.
B. Mag-bakasyon ko karong Disyembre usahay.
C. Karong Disyembre usahay mag-bakasyon ko.

Q5. Ganahan ba siya usahay mag-luluto?
A. Usahay ganahan siya mag-luluto.
B. Ganahan siya mag-luluto usahay.
C. Mag-luluto ganahan usahay siya.

Q6. Na-late ba ka usahay sa klase?
A. Usahay na-late sa klase ko.
B. Na-late ko sa klase usahay.
C. Usahay ko na-late sa klase.

Q7. Mo-surf ba sila usahay sa dagat?
A. Sila usahay mo-surf sa dagat.
B. Usahay sila mo-surf sa dagat.
C. Mo-surf sila usahay sa dagat.

Answer key (with simple explanations)

• Q1 → B – Verb → subject → adverb → place keeps a smooth, natural flow.
• Q2 → B – Starting with adverb + verb + actor + object + time phrase is idiomatic.
• Q3 → A – Verb + actor + adverb + object + place is the clearest order.
• Q4 → C – Time phrase may lead; adverb follows; verb group at the end is still clear.
• Q5 → B – Predicate ganahan + subject + infinitive + adverb feels most natural.
• Q6 → C – Adverb right after subject, then verb phrase; A/B misplace the subject or verb.
• Q7 → B – Adverb first for emphasis, then subject + verb + place; other orders are awkward.