Language/Cebuano/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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In our journey through the Cebuano language, one of the essential skills you'll need to master is telling time. Imagine you're in a bustling market in Cebu, and you want to ask when the next boat leaves for a nearby island. Or perhaps, you're meeting a friend for lunch and need to coordinate your schedules. Being able to tell time accurately not only enhances your communication skills but also enriches your cultural experiences when interacting with locals.
In this lesson, we will explore the various ways to express time in Cebuano, including how to ask for the time and how to structure your responses. We'll break down the components of telling time, offer numerous examples for clarity, and provide engaging exercises to solidify your understanding.
Let's get started!
Understanding Time in Cebuano
Telling time in Cebuano revolves around a few key phrases and vocabulary. To begin, we need to familiarize ourselves with some basic terms related to time.
Key Vocabulary for Telling Time
Here, we will look at essential vocabulary that will help you communicate effectively when discussing time.
| Cebuano | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Oras | /ˈo.ras/ | Hour |
| Minuto | /miˈnu.to/ | Minute |
| Segundo | /seˈɡun.do/ | Second |
| Alas | /aˈlas/ | O'clock |
| Sa | /sa/ | At |
| Ug | /ug/ | And |
| Buntag | /bunˈtaɡ/ | Morning |
| Udto | /ˈud.to/ | Noon |
| Hapon | /haˈpon/ | Afternoon |
| Gabii | /ɡaˈbi.i/ | Evening |
Understanding these key terms will lay the groundwork for telling time effectively in Cebuano.
Asking for the Time
When you want to know the time, you can use these phrases:
1. Unsa'y oras? (What time is it?)
2. Alas unsa na? (What time is it?)
3. Unsa na ang oras? (What is the time now?)
You can also add context to your questions:
- Unsa'y oras karon? (What time is it now?)
- Unsa na ang oras sa Cebu? (What time is it in Cebu?)
Example Questions
Let's take a look at some examples of how to ask for the time:
| Cebuano | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Unsa'y oras? | /unˈsaɪ ˈo.ras/ | What time is it? |
| Alas unsa na? | /aˈlas unˈsa na/ | What time is it? |
| Unsa na ang oras? | /unˈsa na aŋ ˈo.ras/ | What is the time now? |
| Unsa'y oras karon? | /unˈsaɪ ˈo.ras kaˈron/ | What time is it now? |
| Unsa na ang oras sa Cebu? | /unˈsa na aŋ ˈo.ras sa seˈbu/ | What time is it in Cebu? |
Expressing the Time
When responding to a question about the time, you structure your answer by combining the hour and minutes. The format generally follows:
[Hour] + [Minuto] + [Sa] + [Buntag/Udto/Hapon/Gabii]
For example:
- Alas dos sa buntag. (It's two o'clock in the morning.)
- Alas kwatro y medya sa hapon. (It's four thirty in the afternoon.)
Example Responses
Here are some examples of how to express time in Cebuano:
| Cebuano | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Alas uno sa buntag. | /aˈlas ˈu.no sa bunˈtaɡ/ | It's one o'clock in the morning. |
| Alas dos sa buntag. | /aˈlas ˈdos sa bunˈtaɡ/ | It's two o'clock in the morning. |
| Alas tres sa udto. | /aˈlas ˈtres sa ˈud.to/ | It's three o'clock at noon. |
| Alas kwatro sa hapon. | /aˈlas ˈkwa.tro sa haˈpon/ | It's four o'clock in the afternoon. |
| Alas singko y medya sa hapon. | /aˈlas ˈsiŋ.ko i ˈme.dja sa haˈpon/ | It's four thirty in the afternoon. |
| Alas sais sa gabii. | /aˈlas ˈsais sa ɡaˈbi.i/ | It's six o'clock in the evening. |
| Alas otso y kwarenta y cinco sa gabii. | /aˈlas ˈot.so i kwaˈren.ta i ˈsiŋ.ko sa ɡaˈbi.i/ | It's eight forty-five in the evening. |
Understanding the Time Format
In Cebuano, time is often expressed in a 12-hour format. Here’s how you can express the time:
- Before noon (midday): Use "sa buntag" (in the morning).
- Noon: Use "sa udto" (at noon).
- After noon until sunset: Use "sa hapon" (in the afternoon).
- After sunset until midnight: Use "sa gabii" (in the evening).
This structure is crucial for clarity when discussing time.
Using Minutes and Seconds
When you want to include minutes or seconds, you can use the following structure:
- Alas [Hour] ug [Minutes] (It’s [Hour] and [Minutes])
- Alas [Hour] ug [Minutes] sa [Buntag/Udto/Hapon/Gabii] (It's [Hour] and [Minutes] in [Morning/Noon/Afternoon/Evening])
For example:
- Alas dos ug napulo sa buntag. (It's two and ten minutes in the morning.)
- Alas tres ug tunga sa hapon. (It's three and thirty minutes in the afternoon.)
Example Including Minutes
Here are some examples that include minutes:
| Cebuano | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Alas uno ug napulo sa buntag. | /aˈlas ˈu.no ug naˈpu.lo sa bunˈtaɡ/ | It's one and ten minutes in the morning. |
| Alas dos ug napulo'y lima sa udto. | /aˈlas ˈdos ug naˈpu.loʔ i ˈli.ma sa ˈud.to/ | It's two and fifteen minutes at noon. |
| Alas kwatro ug tunga sa hapon. | /aˈlas ˈkwa.tro ug ˈtuŋ.ɡa sa haˈpon/ | It's four and thirty minutes in the afternoon. |
| Alas sais ug usa sa gabii. | /aˈlas ˈsais ug uˈsa sa ɡaˈbi.i/ | It's six and one minute in the evening. |
Practicing Telling Time
Now that you've learned how to ask for and give time in Cebuano, it's time to practice! Here are some exercises to help you reinforce your learning.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences using the correct Cebuano terms for time.
1. Unsa'y ______? (What time is it?)
2. ______ na ang oras? (What time is it?)
3. Alas ______ sa ______. (It's [Hour] in [Time of Day].)
Solutions:
1. oras
2. Unsa
3. (Any appropriate hour and time of day)
Exercise 2: Translate the Questions
Translate the following questions into Cebuano.
1. What time is it now?
2. What time is it in Cebu?
Solutions:
1. Unsa'y oras karon?
2. Unsa na ang oras sa Cebu?
Exercise 3: Time Expression Match
Match the Cebuano phrases with their English translations.
| Cebuano Phrase | English Translation |
|----------------|---------------------|
| Alas tres sa udto | It's three o'clock at noon. |
| Alas kwatro y tunga sa hapon | It's four thirty in the afternoon. |
Solutions:
- Alas tres sa udto → It's three o'clock at noon.
- Alas kwatro y tunga sa hapon → It's four thirty in the afternoon.
Exercise 4: Answer the Questions
Respond to the following questions in Cebuano.
1. What time is it now? (Assume it’s 2:15 PM)
2. What time is it in the morning? (Assume it’s 10:00 AM)
Solutions:
1. Alas dos ug napulo'y lima sa hapon.
2. Alas diyes sa buntag.
Exercise 5: Time Format Practice
Convert the following times into Cebuano.
1. 3:45 PM
2. 7:15 AM
Solutions:
1. Alas kwatro y kwarenta'y lima sa hapon.
2. Alas siyete ug kinse sa buntag.
Exercise 6: Create Your Own Sentences
Using the vocabulary learned, create three sentences telling the time.
Solutions:
(Answers will vary; students should create their own sentences.)
Exercise 7: Listening Exercise
Listen to a conversation where two people are discussing the time. Write down the times mentioned.
Solutions:
(Answers will vary based on the audio provided.)
Conclusion
In this lesson, we've covered the essential vocabulary and structures needed to ask for and tell time in Cebuano. Being able to communicate about time is crucial for daily interactions, whether you're scheduling meetings, planning events, or simply checking in with friends. Make sure to practice regularly to build your confidence and proficiency in this area.
Continue to explore the richness of the Cebuano language as you progress through the rest of the course. Remember, practice makes perfect, and don't hesitate to engage with the language as much as you can!
Sources
- How to Tell Time in Cebuano or Visayan Part II
- Cebuano - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
- cebuano happy birthday bisaya greetings
Other Lessons
- Geography
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Feelings and Emotions
- Animals
- Health
- Clothes
- Common Places
- Months and Seasons
- Greetings and Goodbyes
- Count to 10
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