Learn how to order Filipino street food in Cebuano! ✨
In this lesson, you’ll practice real conversations used at food stalls in the Philippines.
You will learn:

• Useful Cebuano phrases for ordering food
• Vocabulary for popular street foods (meat, sausage, chicken feet, intestine, etc.)
• How to ask prices and totals naturally

This video is perfect for beginners who want to experience Filipino culture through language.

VOCABULARY

unod

Meaning (EN):

1. flesh; meat (of animals/humans)
2. flesh/pulp of fruit (e.g., mango, coconut “meat”)
3. content; substance; gist (of speech/text/plan)

Part of speech: noun

Usage & nuance:

• In food contexts, karne is the common word for animal meat; unod also works but is broader (“flesh/meat”).
• For books/speeches, unod = “substance/essentials,” while sulod = “the inside/contents (physically or items inside).”
• Common collocations: unod sa lubi (coconut meat), unod sa mangga (mango flesh), unod sa istorya/report (the substance of the story/report), walay unod (lacking substance).
• Related word: unodnon (adj.) “fleshy/meaty; carnal; substantive.”
• ⚠️ Not the same as sunod (“next; to follow”).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Palita og karne; unod sa baboy lang, palihog. — Please buy meat; pork meat only.
2. Lami kaayo ang unod sa mangga kay hinog na. — The mango flesh is very tasty because it’s ripe.
3. Unsa may unod sa imong report? — What’s the substance/content of your report?
4. Walay unod ang iyang saad—puro ra pulong. — His promise has no substance—it’s just words.

diy(e)s / dyis (loanword)

Meaning (EN): ten (the number 10)
Part of speech: numeral

Usage & nuance:

• Colloquial/loan form (from Spanish diez). In Cebuano, the native word for 10 is napulo.
• diyes/dyis is very common in money and time: diyes pesos (₱10), alas diy(e)s (10 o’clock).
• For “10th,” use ikapulo (ordinal). For counting items, native style is napulo ka + noun.
• Spelling varies: dyis / diyes—both heard; napulo is the standard native form.

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Diyes (dyis) pesos lang ni. — This is only ten pesos.
2. Alas diy(e)s na; molakaw na ta. — It’s ten o’clock; let’s go.
3. Napulo ka libro ang among gipalit. — We bought ten books.
4. Ikapulo nga adlaw karon sa bulan. — Today is the tenth day of the month.

kani / kini

Meaning (EN): this; this one (near the speaker)
Part of speech: demonstrative pronoun & determiner

Usage & nuance:

• Both mean “this.” kini is a bit more formal/standard; kani is very common in everyday speech.
• As a pronoun: Kini/Kani = “this (one).”
• As a determiner before a noun: kining/kaning + noun = “this + noun.”
• Genitive/“of this”: niini → niining + noun (“of/from this + noun”).
• Contrast: kana/kanang = “that (near you),” kadto/kadtong = “that (over there).”

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Kini akong ID. — This is my ID.
2. Kaning libro mahal kaayo. — This book is very expensive.
3. Tan-awa kini, palihog. — Please look at this.
4. Tungod niining problemaha, malangan ta. — Because of this problem, we’ll be delayed.

sad (also: pud/pod; formal: usab)

Meaning (EN): too; also; as well
Part of speech: enclitic particle/adverb

Usage & nuance:

• Everyday Cebuano for “also/too,” interchangeable with pud/pod; usab sounds more formal.
• As a clitic, it usually comes right after the first word of the clause: Ako sad (“me too”), Mokuha sad ko (“I’ll also get…”).
• Used to show addition, reciprocity, or a friendly “likewise.”

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Ako sad. — Me too.
2. Mukuha sad ko og kape. — I’ll also get coffee.
3. Apila sad si Ana, palihog. — Please include Ana as well.

longganisa

Meaning (EN): Filipino sausage; sweet–garlicky pork sausage (incl. Cebu’s round “chorizo de Cebu”)
Part of speech: noun (countable/uncountable)

Usage & nuance:

• Everyday food word for sausage, esp. the Filipino style served at breakfast (pamahaw).
• In Cebu, you’ll also hear chorizo/chorizo de Cebu (small round “bola-bola” type); people use longganisa and chorizo almost interchangeably.
• Typical with rice and egg, fried, and dipped in suka (vinegar).
• Plural: mga longganisa. To count pieces: usa/duha ka longganisa.

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Nagprito si Mama og longganisa para sa pamahaw. — Mom fried sausage for breakfast.
2. Lami kaayo ang longganisa sa Cebu—tam-is ug ahos. — Cebu longganisa is very tasty—sweet and garlicky.
3. Palihog palita ko’g duha ka longganisa sa merkado. — Please buy me two sausages at the market.

singko

Meaning (EN):

• five (the number 5)
• five pesos / a ₱5 coin or bill
• failing grade “5” (school context, colloquial)

Part of speech: numeral; noun (money/grade)

Usage & nuance:

• Spanish-derived form; the native Cebuano for “five” is lima. For counting items, speakers usually prefer lima (lima ka libro).
• singko is very common for money and time: singko pesos, alas singko (five o’clock).
• In school slang across the Philippines, singko can mean a failing mark.

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Singko pesos lang ni. — This is only five pesos.
2. Magsugod ang klase alas singko sa hapon. — The class starts at 5 p.m.
3. Nakadawat siyag singko sa Math, mao mokuha siya’g remedial. — He got a failing grade of 5 in Math, so he’ll take a remedial class.

dose

Meaning (EN): twelve (the number 12)
Part of speech: numeral

Usage & nuance:

• Spanish-derived form widely used in time and money: alas dose (12 o’clock), dose pesos (₱12).
• For counting items, many speakers also use the native Cebuano form napulog duha: napulog duha ka libro (“twelve books”).
• Ordinal “12th”: ika-dose (also heard: ikalabingduha).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Alas dose na; paniudto ta. — It’s twelve o’clock; let’s have lunch.
2. Dose ka tuig na siya. — He/She is twelve years old.
3. Tag-dose pesos ang saging sa merkado. — The bananas are twelve pesos each at the market.
4. Napulog duha ka estudyante ang miapil sa klase. — Twelve students joined the class.

tiil

Meaning (EN): foot; feet; (by extension) leg of furniture
Part of speech: noun

Usage & nuance:

• The common word for the human foot. Plural with mga or numbers: duha ka tiil (two feet), mga tiil (feet).
• Can also refer to the leg of furniture: tiil sa lamesa (table leg).
• Related body terms: tuhod (knee), tudlo sa tiil (toe), lapalapa (sole of the foot).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Nagsakit akong tiil human sa taas nga lakaw. — My foot hurts after the long walk.
2. Hugasi ang imong mga tiil sa dili pa matulog. — Wash your feet before going to bed.
3. Duol ra sa tiil sa lamesa ang saksakan. — The outlet is right by the table leg.

ulo

Meaning (EN): head (body part); the head/top/upper end; leader/head (figurative)
Part of speech: noun

Usage & nuance:

• Body part: everyday word for the head. Common in health: sakit akong ulo (I have a headache).
• Top/upper end: ulohan = the head/upper end of something (e.g., a bed, a line), or a heading/title (ulohan sa balita “headline”).
• Leader: ulo sa pamilya/grupo = head of the family/group.
• Related words: utok (brain), liog (neck), nawong (face), agtang (forehead).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Sakit akong ulo karong buntag. — I have a headache this morning.
2. Ibutang ang unan sa ulohan sa kama. — Put the pillow at the head of the bed.
3. Siya ang ulo sa among grupo. — He/She is the head of our group.

tinae (also spelled tinai)

Meaning (EN): intestines; guts; entrails
Part of speech: noun

Usage & nuance:

• Everyday word for animal/human intestines; common in cooking/butchery contexts: tinai sa baboy/manok.
• Often treated as a mass noun; use mga tinai when talking about intestines from several animals.
• Typical collocations: hugasán/limpyohan ang tinai (clean the intestines), lutoon ang tinai (cook the intestines).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Palihog limpyohi ang tinai sa baboy; lutoon nato karon. — Please clean the pig intestines; we’ll cook them now.
2. Ayaw mokaon og tinai kung dili limpyo ug luto pag-ayo. — Don’t eat intestines if they’re not thoroughly cleaned and cooked.
3. Gipalit ko og tinai sa manok para ihawon sa gabii. — I bought chicken intestines to grill tonight.

usa

Meaning (EN):

1. one (the number)
2. only one / just one (with ra/lang)
3. one of (…); a/one (as a determiner before a noun)
4. (discourse) “one more / moreover” in Usa pa, …
   Part of speech: numeral; determiner/pronoun; discourse marker (in set phrase usa pa)

Usage & nuance:

• Counting: usa ka + noun = “one ___” (e.g., usa ka libro = one book).
• Only one: usa ra (ka …) / … ra usa = “only one / alone.” Ako ra usa = “I’m alone / just me.”
• One of …: usa sa + plural noun = “one of …” (usa sa mga rason = one of the reasons).
• Another point: Usa pa, … = “One more thing / moreover …”
• Once (derived): kausa = “once.”
• Note (ordinal): “first” is una (not usa).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Palihog hatagi ko og usa ka baso. — Please give me one glass.
2. Ako ra usa diri sa opisina karon. — I’m the only one here in the office now.
3. Usa sa mga plano mao ang pagpa-ehersisyo kada buntag. — One of the plans is to exercise every morning.
4. Usa pa, kinahanglan nato og igo nga ikagasto. — Moreover, we need sufficient funds.

ara / tara

ara

Meaning (EN): there it is / there you go; over there (attention-getter while pointing)
Part of speech: presentative/locative particle; interjection

Usage & nuance:

• Used when pointing out something (often near the listener): “There it is!”
• Very common with particles: ara oh/oy (look!), ara ra (right there), and with place words diha/didto.
• Prefer ania/ani-a (“here is/are”) when the thing is with the speaker.

Examples:

1. Ara sa lamesa ang yawe. — The key is there on the table.
2. Ara oh, niabot na ang jeep. — Look, the jeepney has arrived.
3. Ara diha, tapad sa pultahan. — Right there, beside the door.

tara (Tagalog-origin; widely used in Cebuano)

Meaning (EN): come on; let’s go; let’s (do something)
Part of speech: interjection (invitation/imperative)

Usage & nuance:

• Casual invite to start moving/doing something: Tara, …
• Native Cebuano near-equivalent: Tana (“let’s [now]”); also Lakaw ta (“let’s go”).
• Often followed by a verb/place and softeners na/sa for urgency or politeness.

Examples:

1. Tara, mokaon ta sa gawas. — Come on, let’s eat out.
2. Tara na, molarga na ta. — Come on now, let’s depart.
3. Tara, tan-aw ta’g sine. — Come on, let’s watch a movie.

tanan

Meaning (EN): all; everyone; everything; the whole (set)
Part of speech: quantifier/determiner; pronoun

Usage & nuance:

• Before a noun (determiner):tanang + noun / tanan nga + noun = “all ___.”
  • tanang estudyante = all students.
• As a pronoun:(ang) tanan = “everyone/everything/all (of it/them).”
  • Kita tanan = we all; Sila tanan = they all.
• Set vs. whole (contrast): tanan = all items/members (plural). tibuok/tibuúk = whole/entire single unit (e.g., tibuok adlaw “the whole day”).
• Each/every (contrast): for “each/every,” use matag + singular noun or tagsa-tagsa (each one).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Tanang estudyante motambong sa miting. — All the students will attend the meeting.
2. Kita tanan motabang karong adlawa. — All of us will help today.
3. Dili tanan mahal; naa pay barato. — Not everything is expensive; there are still cheap ones.

singkwenta’y noybe (also: singkwenta’y nuwebe)*

Meaning (EN): fifty-nine (59)
Part of speech: numeral

Usage & nuance:

• Spanish-derived counting form, very common in prices, times, addresses, headcounts.
• Native Cebuano equivalent: kalim-an ug siyam (also widely used).
• Spelling variants for “9”: noybe / nuwebe; the clitic ’y = “and” (from Spanish y).
• Ordinal (59th): ika-kalim-an ug siyam (also seen as ika-59 in writing).

Example sentences (with translations):

1. Tag-singkwenta’y nuwebe ang pan sa tindahan. — The bread is ₱59 each at the store.
2. Singkwenta’y noybe na ang edad sa akong papa. — My father is already 59 years old.
3. Adunay singkwenta’y nuwebe ka estudyante nga mitambong karon. — Fifty-nine students attended today.

FLASHCARDS

DIALOGUE PRACTICE

Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.

Situation: Leah is going to buy street food.

Cebuano

Leah: Tagpila ni?
Joyce: Tag diyes ang unod.

Leah: Kani?
Joyce: Tag diyés sad ang longganisa.

Leah: Kani?
Joyce: Singko ang tinae.

Leah: Kini?
Joyce: Ang ulo kay dose.

Leah: Kani pud.
Joyce: Dose sad ng tiil.

Leah: Ug kani lang pud usa.
Joyce: O tag diyés ang suriso.

A few minutes later

Leah: Humana dae?
Joyce: Ara Ma’am.
Leah: Pila tanan?
Joyce: Singkwenta’y noybe tanan.

Leah: Salamat.
Joyce: Salamat pud.

English

Leah: How much is this?
Joyce: The meat is ten pesos.

Leah: This one?
Joyce: The sausage is also ten pesos.

Leah: This one?
Joyce: The chicken intestine is five pesos.

Leah: This one?
Joyce: The chicken’s head is twelve pesos.

Leah: This one too.
Joyce: The chicken’s feet are twelve pesos too.

Leah: And this one too.
Joyce: The chorizo is ten pesos.

A few minutes later

Leah: Ms, is it done?
Joyce: Here it is, Ms.
Leah: How much is the total?
Joyce: The total is 59 pesos.

Leah: Thank you.
Joyce: Thank you too.

LESSON

These Phrases are used for buying some food or something.

⚫ Tagpila ni?
How much is this?

For example:
Leah: Tagpila ni?
How much is this?
Joyce: Tag diyes ang unod
The meat is ten pesos.

⚫ Humana?
Is it done?

For example:
Leah: Humana dae?
Ms, is it done?
Joyce: Ara Ma’am.
Here it is Ms.

⚫ Pila tanan?
How much is the total?

For example:
Leah: Pila tanan?
How much is the total?
Joyce: Singkwentay noybe tanan.
The total is 59 pesos.

⚫ Naa mo’y …?
Do you have …?

For example:
Leah: Naa mo’y sprite?
Do you have sprite?
Joyce: O, naa.
Yes, we have.

COMPREHENSION QUIZ

Directions: Choose the correct answer.

1. How do you say ‘ How much’ in Cebuano/
   a. asa
   b. tagpila
   c. ngano
   d. kanus-a
2. What do you say in Cebuano if you want to know the total
   price?
   a. Taga asa ka?
   b. Humana?
   c. Tagpila ni?
   d. Pila tanan?
3. How do you say ‘this one’ in Cebuano?
   a. kato
   b. kana
   c. didto
   d. kani
4. How do you reply to the question ‘Tagpila ni?’ ?
   a. Tagpila?
   b. Tag diyes ni.
   c. Humana
   d. Wala pa
5. How do you say ’59’ in Cebuano?
   a. singkwenta
   b. singkwenta’y diyes
   c. saisyenta
   d. singkwenta’y noybe

EXERCISE

Directions: Arrange the words to make sentences.

1. sprite / naa / mo’y / ?
2. noybe / tanan / singkwenta’y
3. ang / diyes / unod / tag
4. ang / tag / longganisa / sad / diyes
5. kini / tagpila / ?

REVIEW

Directions: Have a role play with your teacher.

Student: Naa mo’y ?
Teacher: Naa. Student: __?
Teacher: Tag_____.
Student: Lima kabuok ana.
Student: ___?
Teacher: __ tanan.