Hello everyone! Today, let’s learn the names of things you often see outside in Cebu. As you walk around the city or visit local markets, you’ll come across many things—vehicles, buildings, signs, food, plants, and more. In this lesson, we will learn how to say these things in Cebuano. These words and phrases will be useful whether you are living in Cebu or just visiting. So, let’s get started and expand our vocabulary together!
*This learning material is designed with the assumption that you will be having lessons with Filipino wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, friends, or language teachers.
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Let’s review this video lesson!
In this lesson, we will
1. Learn how to say this and that.
2. Be able to construct simple sentences in Cebuano.
Vocabulary
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Road” or “Street” (a place where vehicles and people pass)
- Usage: Used to refer to roads, streets, or pathways
Examples:
- Ang dalan padulong sa balay kay huot. (The road to the house is narrow.)
- Dili luwas maglakaw sa dalan sa gabii. (It is not safe to walk on the street at night.)
- Naa ba’y dalan padulong sa bukid? (Is there a road leading to the mountain?)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Cloud” (a visible mass of water vapor in the sky)
- Usage: Used to describe clouds in the sky
Examples:
- Daghang panganod karon, tingali mag-uwan. (There are many clouds now; it might rain.)
- Ang panganod puti ug humok tan-awon. (The cloud looks white and soft.)
- Dunay panganod nga murag porma ug kasing-kasing. (There is a cloud shaped like a heart.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Parking lot” or “Parking space” (a place where vehicles are parked)
- Usage: Used when referring to parking spaces or areas
Examples:
- Punô na ang parkinganan sa mall. (The parking lot at the mall is full.)
- Asa dapit ang parkinganan sa jeep? (Where is the jeepney parking area?)
- Dili pwede mag-parking dinhi, walay parkinganan. (You cannot park here; there is no parking space.)
- Part of speech: Noun (plural)
- Meaning: “Plants” (living things that grow from the soil)
- Usage: Used to describe a variety of plants
Examples:
- Ganahan ko magtanom ug mga tanom sa akong garden. (I like planting plants in my garden.)
- Mga tanom kinahanglan ug tubig aron mabuhi. (Plants need water to survive.)
- Daghan kaayong mga tanom sa bukid. (There are many plants in the mountains.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Tree” (a large plant with a trunk) or “Wood” (material from trees)
- Usage: Used when referring to trees or wooden materials
Examples:
- Ang kahoy taas ug daghan ug dahon. (The tree is tall and has many leaves.)
- Gamitan ug kahoy sa paghimo ug lamesa. (Use wood to make a table.)
- Naa koy kahoy nga gitanom sa akong balay. (I have a tree planted at my house.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “House” (a place where people live)
- Usage: Used to refer to someone’s home
Examples:
- Ang ilang blay dako ug puti. (Their house is big and white.)
- Balik ta sa blay human sa trabaho. (Let’s go back home after work.)
- Wala siya sa blay, tua siya sa tindahan. (He is not at home; he is at the store.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Vehicle” or “Car” (a means of transportation)
- Usage: Used to refer to any kind of vehicle
Examples:
- Ang iyang sakyanan bag-o ug pula. (His car is new and red.)
- Asa mo mag-parking sa inyong sakyanan? (Where will you park your vehicle?)
- Nay daghang sakyanan sa dalan karon buntag. (There are many vehicles on the road this morning.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Land” (property or ground) or “Soil” (earth material)
- Usage: Used when referring to property, ground, or soil
Examples:
- Nagpalit sila ug yuta sa probinsya. (They bought land in the province.)
- Ang yuta basa kay nag-uwan. (The soil is wet because it rained.)
- Ang yuta sa bukid abunda sa tanom. (The land in the mountains is full of plants.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Asphalt” (a material used for paving roads)
- Usage: Used when referring to road construction
Examples:
- Ang dalan gitabonan ug spalto. (The road is covered with asphalt.)
- Mas nindot ang spalto kay dili abog. (Asphalt is better because it is not dusty.)
- Gigamit ang spalto sa pagpanday sa highway. (Asphalt is used for building highways.)
- Part of speech: Noun (plural)
- Meaning: “Dogs” (plural form of “iro”)
- Usage: Used when talking about multiple dogs
Examples:
- Daghan kaayo ug mga iro sa among balay. (There are many dogs in our house.)
- Ang mga iro nagdula sa garden. (The dogs are playing in the garden.)
- Ang mga iro kinahanglan ug pagkaon ug tubig. (Dogs need food and water.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Store” (a place where goods are sold)
- Usage: Used to refer to shops or stores
Examples:
- Naa sa tindahan si Mama, nagpalit ug gatas. (Mom is at the store, buying milk.)
- Padulong ko sa tindahan aron mopalit ug tinapay. (I am going to the store to buy bread.)
- Ang tindahan duol lang sa among balay. (The store is near our house.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning:
- “Bench” (a long seat for multiple people)
- Usage:
- Refers to a bench used for sitting
Examples:
- Nagpahuway ko sa bangko sa parke. (I rested on the bench in the park.)
- Ang mga tigulang naglingkod sa bangko sa plasa. (The elderly are sitting on the bench in the plaza.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Cement” (a building material used for construction)
- Usage: Used when referring to construction materials
Examples:
- Gigamit ang semento sa pagtukod sa balay. (Cement is used to build the house.)
- Nagpalit siya ug semento para sa ilang hagdanan. (He bought cement for their staircase.)
- Kinahanglan ug semento ug balas para sa kalsada. (Cement and sand are needed for the road.)
14. Basurahan (Trash Bin / Garbage Can)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Garbage bin” or “Trash container”
- Usage: Used to refer to a place where trash is thrown
Examples:
- Ibutang ang basura sa basurahan. (Put the trash in the trash bin.)
- Napuno na ang basurahan, kinahanglan na ipanglabay. (The garbage bin is full; it needs to be emptied.)
- Dili maayo ipanglabay ang basura gawas sa basurahan. (It’s not good to throw trash outside the bin.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Rock” or “Stone” (a solid mineral material)
- Usage: Used when talking about stones or hard surfaces
Examples:
- Daghang bato sa sapa. (There are many rocks in the river.)
- Ang iyang balay gitukod gamit ang bato ug semento. (His house was built using stone and cement.)
- Gibato sa bata ang kahoy. (The child threw a stone at the tree.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Jeepney” (a common public transportation vehicle in the Philippines)
- Usage: Used when referring to public transportation
Examples:
- Mosakay ko ug jeep padulong sa syudad. (I will ride a jeepney to the city.)
- Ang jeep puno na sa pasahero. (The jeepney is full of passengers.)
- Nawad-an ug preno ang jeep sa karsada. (The jeepney lost its brakes on the road.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Tin” or “Zinc” (used for roofing materials)
- Usage: Refers to sheets of metal used for roofs
Examples:
- Ang atop sa balay gibutangan ug sin. (The house’s roof is covered with tin.)
- Naguba ang sin sa atop tungod sa kusog nga hangin. (The tin roof was damaged because of strong wind.)
- Gipintalan nila ang sin aron dili motaya.(They painted the tin to prevent rusting.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Bucket” (a container for carrying liquids)
- Usage: Used when referring to a container for water, cleaning, or carrying materials
Examples:
- Napuno ang balde ug tubig. (The bucket is full of water.)
- Gamiton nako ang balde sa paglimpyo sa balay. (I will use the bucket to clean the house.)
- Nabuak ang balde kay natagak. (The bucket broke because it fell.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Motorcycle” (a two-wheeled motor vehicle)
- Usage: Used when talking about motorcycles
Examples:
- Nagpalit siya ug motor aron dali siya makaadto sa trabaho. (He bought a motorcycle so he can get to work faster.)
- Dapat magsul-ob ug helmet kung magsakay ug motor. (You should wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.)
- Ang iyang motor bago ug nindot ang disenyo. (His motorcycle is new and has a nice design.)
20. Hinayhay (Clothesline / Hanging Laundry)
- Part of speech: Noun / Verb
- Meaning:
- Usage: Used when referring to drying clothes
Examples:
- Gibutang niya ang sinina sa hinayhay. (She placed the clothes on the clothesline.)
- Nanghayhay siya sa luyo sa balay. (She is hanging clothes to dry at the back of the house.)
- Ang hinayhay namo natumba tungod sa hangin. (Our clothesline fell because of the wind.)
Other Vocabulary
*Vocabulary you should know before you start learning conversations
- Part of speech: 2nd person pronoun / Possessive adjective (plural form)
- Meaning: “Your/Yours” (used to indicate possession, referring to the person/people being spoken to)
- Usage: Used to indicate that something belongs to the person/people being addressed
Examples:
- Asa ang inyong balay? (Where is your house?)
- Ang inyong mga libro naa sa lamesa. (Your books are on the table.)
- Nakalimtan ninyo ang inyong mga gamit. (You forgot your things.)
- Part of speech: Pronoun / Possessive adjective
- Meaning: “Our” (exclusive – meaning it does not include the person being spoken to)
- Usage: Used when referring to something that belongs to the speaker and others, but not the listener
Examples:
- Among balay naa sa bukid. (Our house is in the mountains.)
- Among pamilya nagbakasyon sa Cebu. (Our family went on vacation in Cebu.)
- Among iro buotan ug malipayong muduwa. (Our dog is kind and happy to play.)
- Part of speech: Adjective
- Meaning: “Big” or “Large” (used to describe size)
- Usage: Used to describe the size of objects, people, animals, or abstract things
Examples:
- Dako kaayo ang balay sa akong lola. (My grandmother’s house is very big.)
- Dako nga iro ang naa sa gawas. (A big dog is outside.)
- Dako kaayo ang problema karon. (The problem right now is very big.)
- Part of speech: Adjective
- Meaning: “Small” (used to describe size or quantity)
- Usage: Used when talking about small objects, animals, people, or things
Examples:
- Gamay ra ang among kwarto. (Our room is small.)
- Naa koy gamay nga regalo para nimo. (I have a small gift for you.)
- Gamay pa siya pero kusog na mudagan. (He/She is still small but can run fast.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Neighbor” (a person who lives nearby)
- Usage: Used when referring to people who live next door or in the same neighborhood
Examples:
- Maayo ang among silingan, buotan siya. (Our neighbor is nice; he/she is kind.)
- Ang among silingan namaligya ug prutas. (Our neighbor sells fruits.)
- Nakit-an nako ang among silingan sa mercado. (I saw our neighbor at the market.)
- Part of speech: Noun
- Meaning: “Female friend” (a close female companion)
- Usage: Used to refer to a female friend
Examples:
- Si Ana akong amega sukad pagkabata. (Ana has been my friend since childhood.)
- Nakigkita ko sa akong amega sa mall. (I met my friend at the mall.)
- Akong amega ganahan kaayo ug kape. (My friend loves coffee.)
Flashcards
Dialogue Practice
Directions: Listen and repeat after your teacher.
Cebuano:
Ted: Asa inyong balay?
Ann: Mao na among balay.
Ted: Oi dako man lagi.
Ann: Dili oi. Gamay man gud.
Ted: Kinsa ni nga parkinganan?
Ann: Parkinganan na sa among silingan.
Ted: Asa man kita moagi?
Ann: Ali! Mao kini ang dalan padulong sa amoa.
Ted: Hala! Kadaghan sa mga tanom oi.
Ann: Mga tanom na sa akong amega. Daghan kay sa?
Ted: O. Mga gwapa kaayo.
Key Note
Understanding the Cebuano Sentence Structure: “Mao + kini/kana + ang/mga + noun”
This structure is commonly used in Cebuano to emphasize identification, definition, or clarification of a subject. Let’s break it down grammatically.
1. Sentence Structure Breakdown
➡ Mao + kini (ni) + ang/mga + noun
➡ Mao + kana (na) + ang/mga + noun
Both structures serve to identify or define a noun, with a slight difference in proximity (distance between the speaker and the noun being referred to).
1) Mao (Copula / Identifying Marker)
- “Mao” acts as a copula (like “this is” or “that is” in English).
- It is used to point out or define something.
- It works similarly to “this is” or “that is” in English when identifying something.
2) Kini (ni) / Kana (na) (Demonstrative Pronouns)
- “Kini” (or “ni”) → Means “this” (near the speaker).
- “Kana” (or “na”) → Means “that” (near the listener, but away from the speaker).
Note:
- “Kini” (formal) and “ni” (shortened, informal) are interchangeable.
- “Kana” (formal) and “na” (shortened, informal) are interchangeable.
3) Ang / Mga (Definite Article & Plural Marker)
- “Ang” → The definite article “the”, used for singular nouns.
- “Mga” → Plural marker (like “the” for plural nouns).
Examples:
3. Sentence Examples
1) Mao kini ang libro.
(This is the book.)
- Mao → Identifying word (“This is”)
- Kini → Demonstrative pronoun (“this”)
- Ang → Article (“the”)
- Libro → Noun (“book”)
2) Mao