COUNT, SHOP, AND PLANNumbers in Bisaya: 1-100 and Everyday Use
Bisaya numbers become easier once you recognise the pattern from one to ten. Practise them inside prices, ages, phone numbers, and quantities instead of reciting a list only.
Related guides: Basic phrases, Travel phrases, and Grammar basics.
Bisaya numbers from one to ten
Say these numbers aloud in random order, then use objects around you to practise quantities. Rapid recall is more useful than always counting from one.
Build the teens and tens
Numbers from eleven onward use regular building blocks. Napulog usa is ten plus one; kaluhaan is twenty. Everyday speech may use Spanish- or English-derived number forms in some contexts, especially for time and money, so learn to recognise more than one system.
Use numbers in real situations
Pair each number with a practical question. Prices, quantities, ages, and time give the number a reason to stay in memory.
Use numbers for time, dates, and phone details
In daily life you will hear native Cebuano numbers alongside Spanish-derived and English forms. The choice changes with the speaker and context, especially for time, money, dates, and phone numbers.
Your first goal is comprehension. Confirm important details by repeating the number, showing it on your phone, or writing it down. This is good communication practice even when both speakers are fluent.
Count from eleven through one hundred
Native forms above ten are built from recognizable pieces, but spelling conventions may show contractions differently. Napulog usa is ten and one; kaluhaan is twenty. In real prices and times, Spanish-derived forms are also frequent, so receptive knowledge of both systems matters.
| Number | Native Cebuano | Common Spanish-derived form |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | napulog usa | onse |
| 12 | napulog duha | dose |
| 15 | napulog lima | kinse |
| 20 | kaluhaan | baynte |
| 30 | katloan | trenta |
| 40 | kap-atan | kwarenta |
| 50 | kalim-an | singkwenta |
| 60 | kan-uman | sesenta |
| 70 | kapitoan | setenta |
| 80 | kawaloan | otsenta |
| 90 | kasiyaman | nobenta |
| 100 | usa ka gatos | siyento |
Count people and objects with linkers and counters
A number normally connects to the following noun with ka: tulo ka tawo, lima ka adlaw. Buok can count whole individual items, especially when the noun is omitted or the speaker wants to emphasize pieces.
Do not mechanically insert buok everywhere. Listen to how a speaker counts the particular noun and learn common quantity phrases as units.
Understand prices and decimal amounts
Money talk often mixes Cebuano grammar with Spanish-derived or English number words. Focus on confirming the amount rather than policing which system appears. Ask for the total, repeat it, and check the display or written receipt.
Tell time and arrange a meeting
Clock time commonly uses alas plus a Spanish-derived number, while durations can use native numbers with ka. Speakers also code-switch with English. Learn to ask, propose, and confirm rather than memorizing a single time system.
Kanus-a ta magkita?
When shall we meet?Ugma, mga alas tres sa hapon.
Tomorrow, around three in the afternoon.Sige, alas tres.
Okay, three o'clock.Say dates, ages, and sequence
Dates commonly mix month names and Spanish-derived number forms, while age questions and durations fit Cebuano sentence patterns around pila. Because actual usage varies, learn to understand more than one form and confirm any booking or appointment in writing.
Turn numbers into useful information
Do not count in order. Retrieve numbers in realistic situations so they become available during conversation.
- Say your age, a quantity, and three random numbers.
- Ask the price of an object and invent a spoken answer.
- Read a phone number one digit at a time, then check it.
- Say a meeting day and time, then repeat it for confirmation.
Numbers FAQ
How do you say one, two, three in Bisaya?
One is usa, two is duha, and three is tulo.
Why do I hear Spanish numbers in Bisaya?
Spanish-derived forms remain common in some contexts such as prices and time. Usage varies, so it helps to recognise both native and borrowed forms.
How do you say one hundred in Bisaya?
Usa ka gatos means one hundred.
References and free Bisaya resources
Use this article as a practical starting point, then verify vocabulary, explore the grammar in depth, and compare what you hear from proficient speakers in your community.