Directions

1. Asa ang Magellan's Cross?

   A-sa ang Ma-gel-lan's Cross?

   Where is Magellan's Cross?

   Usage

   Ask for directions to Magellan's Cross, Cebu's most famous landmark

   Grammar Note

   Magellan's Cross marks the 1521 Christianization of Cebu by Ferdinand Magellan. It stands in Cebu City center, near Basilica del Santo Niño.

2. Liko sa tuo ug padayon

   Li-ko sa tu-o ug pa-da-yon

   Turn right then continue

   Usage

   Give or receive directions to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Liko" means "turn" and "padayon" means "continue". Key direction words: "tuo" (right), "wala" (left), "tupad" (beside), "atubangan" (in front).

3. Pila ka kilometro gikan diri?

   Pi-la ka ki-lo-me-tro gi-kan di-ri?

   How many kilometers from here?

   Usage

   Ask how far a destination is from the current location

   Grammar Note

   "Pila" is the Cebuano question word for quantity/amount. "Gikan" marks the starting point — "from". Similar to Tagalog "mula".

4. Unsang dyipni ang akong sakyon?

   Un-sang dyip-ni ang a-kong sak-yon?

   Which jeepney should I take?

   Usage

   Ask which jeepney route to take to the destination

   Grammar Note

   "-on" is Cebuano's patient-focus (passive) suffix. Jeepneys are Cebu's main public transit — route numbers and destinations are painted on the side.

5. Naa ba koy sayop nga dalan?

   Na-a ba koy sa-yop nga da-lan?

   Am I on the wrong road?

   Usage

   Check if you have taken the wrong road when lost

   Grammar Note

   "Naa" is colloquial short form of "anaa" (there is). "Sayop" means mistake/wrong. "Sayop ko" (I was wrong) is a common self-correction expression.

6. Direkta lang ang dalan sa Colon Street

   Di-rek-ta lang ang da-lan sa Co-lon Street

   The road to Colon Street is straight ahead

   Usage

   Give directions to Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines

   Grammar Note

   Colon Street dates back to Cebu City's founding in 1565 — the oldest street in the Philippines. It is now Cebu City's downtown commercial hub. "Lang" softens statements.

7. Duol na ba kita?

   Du-ol na ba ki-ta?

   Are we almost there?

   Usage

   Ask the driver or guide if the destination is nearby

   Grammar Note

   "Kita" is the inclusive "we" (you and I included). "Kami" is exclusive "we" (I/we, excluding the listener) — a distinction common in Philippine languages.

8. Ipadala nako ang location sa imong phone

   I-pa-da-la na-ko ang lo-ca-tion sa i-mong phone

   I'll send the location to your phone

   Usage

   Share a location pin via smartphone

   Grammar Note

   "I-" is the instrument/beneficiary focus prefix. "Ipadala" = "to send (it)". Sharing phone location pins is a common way to give directions in Cebu.

9. Tabok kita sa taytay

   Ta-bok ki-ta sa tay-tay

   Let's cross the bridge

   Usage

   Tell a companion to cross the bridge

   Grammar Note

   "Tabok" means to cross (road, river, or bridge). "Taytay" is the native Cebuano word for bridge. Useful in Cebu City where many bridges connect barangays.

10. Mapakita ba nimo sa mapa?

    Ma-pa-ki-ta ba ni-mo sa ma-pa?

    Can you show me on the map?

    Usage

    Ask someone to point out a location on a map

    Grammar Note

    "Ma-" is an ability/possibility prefix. "Mapakita" = "can you show". "Nimo" is the ergative form of "you" (agent of the action).

11. Sa tuo

    To the right

    Usage

    Readable at a glance from a moving vehicle; show it to the driver

12. Sa wala

    To the left

    Usage

    Wala alone also means "none", so the direction is given as sa wala

13. Diretso

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show this to a driver to keep going straight

14. Balik

    Go back

    Usage

    Ask the driver to turn back when you have gone too far

15. Para diri!

    Stop here

    Usage

    The standard call for getting off a jeepney or taxi; para means stop

16. Amihanan

    North

    Usage

    Give a compass direction while comparing with a map

17. Habagatan

    South

    Usage

    Give a compass direction while comparing with a map

18. Sidlakan

    East

    Usage

    Give a compass direction while comparing with a map

19. Kasadpan

    West

    Usage

    Give a compass direction while comparing with a map

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