Numbers in Bisaya

In this modern society, people nowadays use the English version of words to say the amount, price, and everything related to numbers. But sometimes we want to know or we still prefer to use the Bisaya words especially when buying something or talking about someone or something.

Below is a script from Wikipedia about a part of the history of the language for your information.

Cebuano was first documented by Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian explorer who was part of Ferdinand Magellan's 1521 expedition.^[11] Spanish missionaries started to write in the language during the early 18th century, and as a result, Cebuano contains many words of Spanish origin.^{[citation needed]}

While there is evidence of a pre-Spanish writing system for the language, its use appears to have been sporadic. Spaniards recorded the Visayan script^[12] which was called Kudlit-kabadlit by the natives.^[13] The colonists erroneously called the ancient Filipino script "Tagalog letters", regardless of the language for which it was used. This script died out by the 17th century as it was replaced by the Latin alphabet.

The language was heavily influenced by the Spanish language during the period of colonialism from 1565 to 1898. With the arrival of Spanish colonials, for example, a Latin-based writing system was introduced alongside a number of Spanish loanwords.

First, let's start with the basics which is the numbers. Due to the colonization, we have used two formats in numbers which I will explain later when you will have to use them.

Below are the Bisaya numbers:

1	Usa		11	Napulo'g Usa		30	Katlo-an
2	Duha		12	Napulo'g Duha		40	Kap-atan
3	Tulo		13	Napulo'g Tulo		50	Kalim-an
4	Upat		14	Napulo'g Upat		60	Kan-uman
5	Lima		15	Napulo'g Lima		70	Kapito-an
6	Unom		16	Napulo'g Unom		80	Kawalo-an
7	Pito		17	Napulo'g Pito		90	Kasiyaman
8	Walo		18	Napulo'g Walo		100	Usa ka Gatos
9	Siyam		19	Napulo'g Siyam		1000	Usa ka Libo
10	Napulo		20	Kawhaan

The format for 21 to 29 is the same in 11 to 19 and 40 to 90 follows.

    Ex: Kawhaan ug Usa (21)

           Katlo-an ug Duha (32)

           Kap-atan ug Tulo (43)

In English, it will translate to "Twenty and One, Thirty and Two, Forty and Three".

"ug" in Bisaya always mean "and" in English.

It is also the same in Hundreds and Thousands, however we start the single number first like in one hundred, we say "Usa ka Gatos". Thus the format follows until the thousands.

    Ex: Lima ka Gatos (500)

          Unom ka Libo (6 000)

While the loan words from Spanish we have basically the same way we say it in Spanish but different in spelling, the local way (I guess?) You can see the list below:

1	Ono		11	Onse		30	Trayenta		400	Kwatrosyentos
2	Dos		12	Dose		40	Kwarenta		500	Kinyentos
3	Tres		13	Trese		50	Singkwenta		600	Saisentos
4	Kwatro		14	Katorse		60	Saisenta		700	Sitentos
5	Singko		15	Kinse		70	Sitenta		800	Otsentos
6	Sais		16	Disesais		80	Otsenta		900	Nubentos
7	Syete		17	Disesyete		90	Nubenta		1000	Sien Mil
8	Otso		18	Diseotso		100	Sinto		2000	Dos Mil
9	Nuybe		19	Disenuybe		200	Dosyentos		5000	Singko Mil
10	Diyes		20	Bayente		300	Tresyentos		10000	Dyes Mil

For those who wants to learn how to say bigger numbers, the format goes the same as the Bisaya one. The tens number will go first "10, 20, 30" and followed with the Mil which means thousand.

    Ex: Bayente Mil (20 000)

           Otsenta Mil (80 000)

Now, you would ask, which one should you use when you speak Bisaya? Well, the answer is both. 

The uses will be in the context below:

When you want to say the time:

We use the Spanish numbers.

Ex:

Bisaya: Alas nuybe dose na sa gabii karon.

English: It is 9:12 PM now.

Whenever we say time, we always start with the word "alas" in the sense of time which means "o'clock". So, if I will translate it in English by the way it is arranged: O'clock 9 12 already in evening now.

Also, the number "ono" is changed to "una" when we say the time. 

Bisaya: Init kaau basta ala una sa hapon.

English: It's really hot when it is 1:00 in the afternoon.

We also take the "-s" from the word "alas" since it precedes a word that starts with a vowel.

Another example:

Bisaya: Magsugod ang misa inig ka alas nuybe medya sa buntag.

English: The mass will start at 9:30 AM.

We use the word "medya"(pronounced as "medja") to represent "30" instead of saying "trayenta" although you can also use the latter. So basically, we just exchange which one we prefer to use, either "medya" or "trayenta".

For the pronunciation of twenty and thirty:

Bayente > bayn-te

Trayenta > trayn-ta

When you need to count the money:

We use Spanish numbers.

Just like any other places, we do not say the currency. 

Ex;

Bisaya: Tag dosyentes kini.

English: This is 200.

Numbers does not change in this aspect, it follows the rule of the list of numbers.

When you want to count the people in a group, or just counting people:

We use the Bisaya numbers.

Ex:

English: One, two, three,.... there are 6 people in this group.

Bisaya: Usa, duha, tulo.... anaa gayoy unom ka tawo aning grupoha.

The English translation will be: "One, two, three,... there really are six people in this group". Now, I am using the original Bisaya word in the sentence. There is a shortened way, but it will make you more confused, so learning the basics and original way is much better. 

So,"gayod" is the word to be used, but when it precedes a word that starts with a vowel, we changed the "-d" into "-y". It's like using "a" or "an" in English. 

Here are more examples:

Bisaya: Anaa gayod si Britney Spears sa Manila.

English: Britney Spears is really in Manila.

Bisaya: Mahadlok man ko kay anaa gayoy iro sa inyo.

English: I am scared because you have a dog.

When counting items, units, whether non-living or living things:

We use the Bisaya numbers.

Ex:

Bisaya: Anaa akoy walo ka iring.

English: I have eight cats.

Bisaya: Magpalit ko ug usa ka kilo nga mangga.

English: I will buy one kilo of mango.

Bisaya: Kinahanglan ko mo inom ug usa ka litro nga tubig kada adlaw.

English: I need to drink one liter of water everyday.

Bisaya: Anaa gayoy usa ka babaye nga mura ug gwapa.

English: There is one woman who feels pretty.

Additional information, when you are buying something and you want to divide or put it in one container.

Will have to use the Bisaya numbers, usa, duha tulo into usaha, duha-a, tulo-a, upata, lima-a, etc.

Ex:
Bisaya: Usaha lang ug selopin ang soft drinks palihug.
English: Please put the two soft drinks in one plastic container.

The example above is when you want to put two soft drinks in one plastic container because you might want to drink it all by yourself. And this tone would sound like a commanding tone.

Another Ex:
Bisaya: Pwede usahon ug selopin ang soft drinks?
English: Can you please put the two soft drinks in one plastic container?

This example uses Bisaya numbers but with the "-hon" at the end. Like duha-on, tulo-on, upaton, etc. these are used like a suggestion or a request to be done for you.

This time, I will share some conversations related to numbers.

Ian	Pila kabuok imong nauyab?	How many girlfriends did you have?
Ace	Duha raman. Ikaw?	Only two. How about you?
Ian	Wala pa gayod ko nakauyab.	I have not had a girlfriend.
Ace	Panguyab na dayon.	Then you should court.
Marie	Unsa orasa magsugod atong klase ugma?	What time will our class start tomorrow?
Love	Mga ala una man siguro.	Maybe at 1 o'clock.
Marie	Mangutana ta ug laing kauban nato sa klase.	Let's ask someone else from our class.
Love	Anaa ka bay kaila diri?	Do you have someone you know here?
Marie	Kanang ga lingkod, ikaduha gikan sa tu-o.	The one who is sitting, second to the left.
Dave	Pahulma ko ug kwarta palihug.	I'd like to borrow money please.
Kevin	Pila imong hulamon?	How much do you want to borrow?
Dave	Mga usa ka gatos lang, pamilete ba.	One hundred only, just for a fare.
Kevin	Sige. Anaa man koy sobra diri.	Okay. I have an extra here.
Dave	Salamat kaayo!	Thank you so much!
Mika	Unsa ka orasa ma uli?	What time will you be home?
Mike	Alas nuybe medya ko ma uli.	I will be home at 9:30.
Mika	Hapit naman ang oras, wala paman ka diri.	It's almost time but you aren't here yet.
Mike	Alas dyes nalang ko uli, traffic man gayod.	I will be home at 10:00 instead. It's too traffic.

Vocabulary:

na - already

sa - at, by, for, from, in, into, of, on, through, to

gabii - evening

karon - now

gatos - hundred

libo - thousand

ento(s) - hundred

mil - thousand

naa(y) - there is/are, is/are there

ka - quantifier

tawo - person/people

ani - this 

grupoha - group (English loan word)

gayod (y) - indeed, certainly, surely, quite

kini - this

tag - is a word used when answering the question, "tagpila" or how much

This will be for now. If you have any questions and suggestions, feel free to comment below.