How to Ask for Directions: Where is the Currency Exchange? #BC23

2021/6/4

Learn how to ask for directions in English and Cebuano with practical travel phrases! 🌏💬
In this lesson, you will:

  • Practice asking “Where is the currency exchange?” and other location questions.
  • Learn useful Cebuano vocabulary such as bank, around the corner, across, near.
  • Improve your confidence in real-life travel situations.
  • Test yourself with a quick comprehension quiz and practice exercises.

Perfect for travelers, beginners, and Cebuano learners who want to feel more comfortable when asking for places abroad.

VOCABULARY

Mahimo

  • English meaning: can / may / be able to / possible / become
  • Part of speech: verb (modal / auxiliary); can also function as a main verb
  • Usage: Very flexible word. It can mean ability/possibility (can, may, be possible), permission (may), or *to become / to be made into.

Example sentences

  1. Mahimo ba nako nga mangutana?
    → May I ask a question?
  2. Mahimo kini nga problema kung dili nato sulbaron.
    → This can become a problem if we don’t solve it.
  3. Mahimo siya nga maayo nga lider.
    → He can become a good leader.

Asa

  • English meaning: where
  • Part of speech: interrogative adverb
  • Usage: Used when asking about a place, direction, or destination. Equivalent to “where” in English.

Example sentences

  1. Asa ka karon?
    → Where are you now?
  2. Asa ta magkita ugma?
    → Where shall we meet tomorrow?
  3. Asa ang imong balay?
    → Where is your house?

Dapit

  • English meaning: place / area / location
  • Part of speech: noun
  • Usage: Refers to a specific place, spot, or area. Equivalent to “place” or “location” in English. Often used when asking about or pointing to where something is.

Example sentences

  1. Unsa nga dapit imong gipuy-an?
    → What place do you live in?
  2. Layo kaayo nga dapit ang among giadto.
    → We went to a very far place.
  3. Daghan kaayong tawo sa dapit sa plaza.
    → There are many people in the area of the plaza.

Duol

  • English meaning: near / close
  • Part of speech: adjective; can also function as an adverb or verb
  • Usage: Describes proximity in distance or relationship. Equivalent to “near,” “close,” or “approach” depending on context.

Example sentences

  1. Duol ra ang simbahan gikan sa among balay.
    → The church is near our house.
  2. Duol siya sa akong kasingkasing.
    → He/She is close to my heart.
  3. Ayaw kahadlok, duol ra ko nimo.
    → Don’t be afraid, I’m close to you.

Eskina

  • English meaning: corner / street corner / intersection
  • Part of speech: noun
  • Usage: Refers to the corner of a street, road, or building, often used when giving directions. Equivalent to “corner” or “intersection” in English.

Example sentences

  1. Maghulat ko nimo sa eskina.
    → I will wait for you at the corner.
  2. Ang tindahan naa sa eskina sa kalsada.
    → The store is at the street corner.
  3. Nakita nako siya sa eskina sa plaza.
    → I saw him at the corner of the plaza.

Ilisanan og kwarta

  • English meaning: money changer / place to exchange money
  • Part of speech: noun phrase
  • Usage: Refers to a shop, booth, or establishment where people can exchange one currency for another. Equivalent to “money changer” in English.

Example sentences

  1. Asa ang ilisanan og kwarta diri sa syudad?
    → Where is the money changer here in the city?
  2. Moadto ko sa ilisanan og kwarta aron magpabailo ug dolyar.
    → I will go to the money changer to exchange dollars.
  3. Daghang tawo sa ilisanan og kwarta kada hapon.
    → There are many people at the money changer every afternoon.

Atbang

  • English meaning: opposite / across from / facing
  • Part of speech: preposition; can also function as an adverb
  • Usage: Refers to something located directly across or opposite another object, person, or place. Equivalent to “opposite” or “across from” in English.

Example sentences

  1. Ang simbahan naa atbang sa plaza.
    → The church is across from the plaza.
  2. Lingkod siya atbang nako.
    → She sat opposite me.
  3. Ang tindahan naa atbang sa eskwelahan.
    → The store is opposite the school.

Gamay

  • English meaning: small / little
  • Part of speech: adjective
  • Usage: Describes size, quantity, or extent as being small. Equivalent to “small” or “little” in English.

Example sentences

  1. Gamay ra ang akong kwarta.
    → I have little money.
  2. Gamay nga bata nagdula sa dalan.
    → A small child is playing on the street.
  3. Gamay ra ang problema, ayaw kabalaka.
    → The problem is small, don’t worry.

FLASHCARDS

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Situation: James who is from Canada is visiting Cebu.

Cebuano Version

James: Excuse me, mahimong mangutana?
Stranger: Sige. Unsa man?
James: Asa ang Ayala mall dapit?
Stranger: Naa sa eskina. Duol na lang.
James: Naa ba’y ilisanan og kwarta sa eskina?
Stranger: Naa apan naa sa atbang.
James: Sige. Unya asa dapit ang bangko?
Stranger: Naa rasad sa atbang unahan gamay sa tuong bahin.
James: Sige. Salamat kaayo.
Stranger: Way sapayan.

English Version

James: Excuse me, can I ask a question?
Stranger: Okay. What is it?
James: Where is Ayala mall?
Stranger: It’s around the corner. It’s already near.
James: Is there a currency exchange around the corner?
Stranger: There is but it’s there on the opposite.
James: Okay. Then, where is the bank?
Stranger: It’s there on the opposite, a little further to the right.
James: Okay. Thank you so much.
Stranger: You’re welcome.

LESSON

Asa + place (building/business / etc)?
For examples:

Asa ang Ayala mall dapit?
Where is Ayala mall?

Asa dapit ang CR?
Where is the bathroom?

Asa dapit ang Jollibee?
Where is the Jollibee?

Asa ang pinakaduol nga pailisanan og kwarta?
Where is the nearest foreign currency exchange?

Unya asa dapit ang bangko?
Then, where is the bank?

Naa ba’y + place (building/business / etc) ?
For examples:
Naa ba’y ilisanan og kwarta sa eskina?
Is there a money changer on the corner?

Naa ba’y Jollibee didto?
Is there a Jollibee over there?

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

  1. How do you say ‘currency exchange’ in Cebuano?

a. bangko
b. ilisanan og kwarta
c. kwarta
d. duol

  1. What wh-question do you use when asking question about the place?
    a. ngano
    b. kanus-a
    c. unsa
    d. asa

  1. How do you say ‘can’ in Cebuano?

a. mao
b. mahimo
c. asa
d. dapit

  1. How do you say ‘around the corner’ in Cebuano?

a. eskina
b. duol
c. atbang
d. dapit

  1. How do you answer to the question ‘Asa ang Sm mall?’ ?

a. Naa sa balay.
b. Naa sa tindahan.
c. Naa sa eskina.
d. Naa ko’y baligya

EXERCISE

Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.

  1. dapit / Jollibee / asa / ang / ?
  2. nga / og / pinakaduol / ang / kwarta / asa / pailisanan / ?
  3. ang / unya / bangko / dapit / asa / ?
  4. kwarta / ba’y / sa / naa / og / eskina / ilisanan / ?
  5. CR / dapit / asa / ang / ?

REVIEW

Directions: Let’s do a role play. Ask your teacher using the

question ‘asa’.

For example:

Asa dapit ang Jollibee?
Where is the Jollibee?
Student: Asa ? Teacher: ____.

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