Numbers · money · time · 37 entries

Counting in Bisaya: Numbers, Money, and Time the Local Way

Cebuanos count two ways — the native Bisaya way (usa, duha, tulo) and the Spanish-borrowed way (uno, dos, tres). Locals switch between them constantly, and which one to use depends on context, not preference.

This guide shows you exactly when each is right — plus money talk, telling time, and calendar words.

01 / 05

Native Bisaya Numbers (1–10)

The original Cebuano counting system. Used for people, things, and days. Learn these first — they cover 95% of daily counting.

  • Usa

    OO-sah

    1 (one)

    Standalone or as a unit: usa ka tao = one person.

  • Duha

    DOO-hah

    2 (two)

    Duha ka adlaw = two days.

  • Tulo

    TOO-loh

    3 (three)

    Tulo ka anak = three children.

  • Upat

    OO-paht

    4 (four)

    Upat ka oras = four hours.

  • Lima

    LEE-mah

    5 (five)

    Lima ka semana = five weeks.

  • Unom

    OO-nohm

    6 (six)

    Unom ka bulan = six months.

  • Pito

    PEE-toh

    7 (seven)

    Pito ka tuig = seven years.

  • Walo

    WAH-loh

    8 (eight)

    Walo ka adlaw = eight days.

  • Siyam

    SEE-yahm

    9 (nine)

    Siyam ka piraso = nine pieces.

  • Napulo

    nah-POO-loh

    10 (ten)

    Napulo ka semana = ten weeks.

02 / 05

Spanish-Borrowed Numbers — For Time and Money

Cebuano absorbed the Spanish counting system for time and money. These are the numbers you'll hear at every market, taxi, and clock.

  • Uno

    OO-noh

    1

    Mostly used in time/money contexts.

  • Dos

    dohs

    2

    Alas dos = 2 o'clock.

  • Tres

    trehs

    3

    Tres pesos = 3 pesos.

  • Kuwatro

    KWAH-troh

    4

    Kuwatro syentos = 400.

  • Singko

    SEENG-koh

    5

    Singko pesos.

  • Sais

    sah-EES

    6

    Alas sais sa buntag = 6 AM.

  • Siyete

    see-YEH-teh

    7

    Siyete-singkwenta = 7:50.

  • Otso

    OHT-soh

    8

    Alas otso = 8 o'clock.

  • Nuwebe

    noo-WEH-beh

    9

    Nuwebe na ka tuig = 9 years already.

  • Diyes

    DEE-yehs

    10

    Diyes pesos = 10 pesos.

03 / 05

Money Talk — Pesos, Markets, Bargaining

Six phrases that handle every market, sari-sari store, and tricycle ride in the Visayas.

  • Pila ni?

    PEE-lah nee

    How much is this?

    The universal price question.

  • Tagpila ang kilo?

    tahg-PEE-lah ahng KEE-loh

    How much per kilo?

    For weighed goods. Tagpila = how much each / per unit.

  • Singkwenta lang.

    seeng-KWEHN-tah lahng

    Just fifty.

    Counter-offer or set price.

  • Walay sukli.

    wah-LAI SOOK-lee

    No change.

    What sari-sari stores often say. Sukli = change (money returned).

  • Pwede ba ma-discount?

    PWEH-deh bah mah-discount

    Can it be discounted?

    The polite haggle opener.

  • Bayad ko.

    bah-YAHD koh

    Here's my payment.

    Said while handing over money. Especially in jeepneys.

At the night market

  1. You: Pila ang lechon kawali?

    How much is the lechon kawali?

  2. Vendor: Tres-syentos kinkwenta, sir.

    350, sir.

  3. You: Pwede ba'g singkwenta discount?

    Can I get a 50-peso discount?

  4. Vendor: Sige, tres-syentos lang sa imo.

    Okay, 300 just for you.

04 / 05

Telling Time the Cebuano Way

Cebuano time is built on the Spanish alas + number pattern, plus time-of-day labels (buntag, hapon, gabii) that English doesn't have a clean match for.

  • Alas dos sa hapon.

    AH-lahs dohs sah hah-POHN

    2 PM.

    Sa hapon = in the afternoon.

  • Alas otso sa buntag.

    AH-lahs OHT-soh sah boon-TAHG

    8 AM.

    Sa buntag = in the morning.

  • Alas onse sa gabii.

    AH-lahs OHN-seh sah gah-BEE-ee

    11 PM.

    Sa gabii = at night.

  • Tunga sa alas tres.

    TOO-ngah sah AH-lahs trehs

    3:30.

    Tunga = half. Literally half of three.

  • Kinse minutos pa para alas singko.

    KEEN-seh meh-NOO-tohs pah PAH-rah AH-lahs SEENG-koh

    15 minutes before 5 (4:45).

    Pa para = still until.

05 / 05

Days, Months, and Calendar Words

Almost all calendar words in Cebuano are Spanish-borrowed. They're easy to recognize and used universally.

  • Lunes — Martes — Miyerkules — Huwebes — Biyernes — Sabado — Dominggo

    —

    Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday – Saturday – Sunday

    Days of the week. Spanish-origin, used by everyone.

  • Enero, Pebrero, Marso, Abril, Mayo, Hunyo

    —

    January – June

    Months — first half.

  • Hulyo, Agosto, Septyembre, Oktubre, Nobyembre, Disyembre

    —

    July – December

    Months — second half.

  • Karon

    kah-ROHN

    today / now

    Karon nga adlaw = today.

  • Ugma

    OOG-mah

    tomorrow

    Mokaon ta ugma. = We'll eat tomorrow.

  • Gahapon

    gah-HAH-pohn

    yesterday

    Naa ko sa Cebu gahapon. = I was in Cebu yesterday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there two number systems?

Three centuries of Spanish colonization added a parallel set. Cebuanos kept both — and use whichever is faster in each context.

Do I have to learn both?

For native numbers, learn 1–10. For Spanish numbers, learn 1–100 and the time/money idioms. That covers 95% of daily life.

What's tagpila?

Tagpila = how much each / per unit. Used at markets: Tagpila ang mangga? — How much per mango?

How do I say free?

Libre — borrowed from Spanish. Libre lang ni — This is free.

What's sukli?

Sukli = change (money returned). Asa akong sukli? — Where's my change? From Spanish suelto.

How do Cebuanos say very large numbers like a million?

Milyon — usa ka milyon (one million). Spanish-borrowed.

Is alas dose 12 noon or 12 midnight?

Add the time-of-day label: Alas dose sa udto = 12 noon. Alas dose sa kaadlawon = 12 midnight.

Numbers down — now use them

Open the night market in Cebu. Ask Pila ni? at three stalls. Negotiate one price. You've used 80% of this article in 10 minutes.

100 sentences →Travel phrasebook →Food vocabulary →Word of the day →Practice quiz →

Salamat sa pag-ihap, higala. Padayon.

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