Emergency

1. Tabang!

   Ta-bang!

   Help!

   Usage

   Urgent call for help

   Grammar Note

   "Tabang!" is imperative meaning "Help me!". Equivalent to Tagalog "Saklolo!".

2. Kinahanglan ko og doktor

   Ki-na-hang-lan ko og dok-tor

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Requesting medical help

   Grammar Note

   "Kinahanglan" expresses necessity. "Og" is the object focus marker. "Doktor" from Spanish "doctor".

3. Nawad-an ko og pitaka

   Na-wad-an ko og pi-ta-ka

   I lost my wallet

   Usage

   Reporting a lost item

   Grammar Note

   "Nawad-an" derives from "wala" (gone/lost). Suffix "-an" indicates the subject is affected by the action.

4. Tawga ang ambulansya!

   Taw-ga ang am-bu-lans-ya!

   Call an ambulance

   Usage

   Urging someone to call an ambulance

   Grammar Note

   "Ambulansya" from Spanish "ambulancia". The emergency number in the Philippines is 911.

5. Diin ang ospital?

   Di-in ang os-pi-tal?

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   Urgently asking for the hospital location

   Grammar Note

   "Diin" is Cebuano for "where", synonymous with "asa". "Ospital" from Spanish "hospital".

6. Nasakitan ko

   Na-sa-ki-tan ko

   I am injured / I got hurt

   Usage

   Reporting an injury

   Grammar Note

   "Sakit" (pain/sickness) + "na-" (perfective) + "-an" (affected). Distinguish from "Nagsakit ko" (I got sick).

7. Gikawatan ko

   Gi-ka-wa-tan ko

   I was robbed / I was stolen from

   Usage

   Reporting theft to the police

   Grammar Note

   "Gi-" creates passive perfective verbs. "Kawat" means to rob/steal; the "-an" suffix makes the victim the subject. Be careful in tourist areas of Cebu. The nationwide emergency number is 911 (police, fire and medical).

8. Dili ko makaginhawa

   Di-li ko ma-ka-gin-ha-wa

   I cannot breathe

   Usage

   Reporting breathing difficulty in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "Ginhawa" means breath/breathing; adding the ability prefix "maka-" gives "dili makaginhawa" — "I cannot breathe". Synonym: "Lisod akong pagginhawa" (it's hard for me to breathe).

9. Kinahanglan ko og tighubad

   Ki-na-hang-lan ko og tig-hu-bad

   I need an interpreter

   Usage

   Requesting an interpreter at the police or hospital

   Grammar Note

   "Hubad" is the root meaning translation/interpretation; with the agent prefix "tig-", "tighubad" means interpreter/translator. "Muhubad" is the verb (to translate).

10. Alerdyi ko sa kini nga tambal

    A-lerd-yi ko sa ki-ni nga tam-bal

    I am allergic to this medicine

    Usage

    Informing medical staff about a drug allergy

    Grammar Note

    "Alerdyi" is the Cebuano adaptation of English "allergy". "Tambal" is the native word for medicine. "Alerdyi ko sa..." = I'm allergic to...

11. Ayaw!

    Stop / Do not

    Usage

    Show this firmly to pushy touts, scammers or anyone unsafe, without raising your voice

12. Ayaw ko hilabti!

    Do not touch me

    Usage

    Show this when someone touches you; it is a firm refusal

13. Nawala ko sa dalan

    I am lost

    Usage

    Tell a passer-by that you are lost

14. Tawagi ang pulis!

    Call the police

    Usage

    Ask bystanders to call the police for you

15. Sunog

    Fire

    Usage

    A fire breaking out in a place and causing damage and danger

16. Kawatan

    Thief

    Usage

    A thief or burglar; the same word also covers the theft itself

17. Holdaper

    Robber (hold-up man)

    Usage

    Someone who robs at gunpoint or knifepoint

18. Esnatser

    Snatcher

    Usage

    A snatcher: a thief who steals by snatching

19. Mangunguot

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    A pickpocket; the root "kuot" means to reach a hand into something

20. Pagdagit

    Abduction / kidnapping

    Usage

    Abduction, the act of carrying a person away by force; the root "dagit" is to abduct

21. Pagpatay

    Killing / murder

    Usage

    A killing: an instance of someone being killed

22. Kagubot

    Riot

    Usage

    A riot, but also chaos, confusion or turbulence in general

23. Bomba

    Bomb

    Usage

    The word for a bomb. That is its first sense, but the same word also means the pump of a well, so use it in an unmistakably urgent context

24. Sunog! Dagan!

    Su-nog! Da-gan!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Alerts the people around you to a fire and tells them to run

    Grammar Note

    The first half is "Sunog" (fire). Cebuano actor-focus imperatives are the bare root, so "dagan" (to run) becomes the command "Dagan!".

25. Dakpa ang kawatan!

    Dak-pa ang ka-wa-tan!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Calls on bystanders to seize someone who has just stolen from you

    Grammar Note

    The order is "imperative + ang + noun". "Kawatan" is a thief. "Dakpa" is the patient-focus imperative of "dakop", and the target takes the ang marker.

26. Tawagi ang bombero!

    Ta-wa-gi ang bom-be-ro!

    Please call the fire brigade!

    Usage

    Asks someone to call the fire service

    Grammar Note

    The object of "Tawagi ang pulis!" is swapped. "Bombero" means a firefighter, not the vehicle, so the Japanese gloss says "call the fire service". The building (fire station) is "Bomberohan".

27. Diin ang presinto?

    Di-in ang pre-sin-to?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Asks for the police station so you can report an incident

    Grammar Note

    The subject of "Diin ang ospital?" is swapped. "Presinto" means a police station; it also means an electoral precinct, but that reading does not arise in an emergency.

28. Kinahanglan nako i-report sa pulis.

    Ki-na-hang-lan na-ko i-re-port sa pu-lis.

    I need to make a report to the police

    Usage

    Files the report with the police that you need for an insurance claim or a replacement document

    Grammar Note

    The addressee is marked with "sa pulis" (to the police). "Kinahanglan nako + verb" means "I need to ...", and "i-report" means to report.

29. Aduna bay makasulti sa pinulongang Hapon?

    A-du-na bay ma-ka-sul-ti sa pi-nu-lo-ngang Ha-pon?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Looks for a Japanese speaker at a hospital or a police station

    Grammar Note

    The existential "Aduna bay ...?" (is there ...?) with the potential form "makasulti" (able to speak) and "pinulongan" (language). Bare "Hapon" is a homograph of "hapon" (afternoon), so "pinulongan" is prefixed to remove the ambiguity.

30. Walay panimuot kini nga tawo.

    Wa-lay pa-ni-mu-ot ki-ni nga ta-wo.

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Tells responders or bystanders that the person who has collapsed is unconscious

    Grammar Note

    Predicate-first Cebuano order, using a "walay + noun" negative existential (there is no ...). The demonstrative noun phrase takes the "kini nga + noun" shape.

31. Adunay nalumos!

    A-du-nay na-lu-mos!

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Raises the alarm when you see someone drowning at the beach or in a pool

    Grammar Note

    An existential "Adunay ..." (there is ...) frame. "Lumos" means to drown, and the na- form carries this sense.

32. Gibunalan ko.

    Gi-bu-na-lan ko.

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Reports to police or a doctor that you were assaulted

    Grammar Note

    The same "gi-…-an + ang-form ko" victim frame as "Gikawatan ko". The root "bunal" means to beat or strike with a cane.

33. Gidunggab ko sa usa ka tawo.

    Gi-dung-gab ko sa u-sa ka ta-wo.

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Tells responders or police that you were stabbed with a blade

    Grammar Note

    The same "gi- form + ang-form ko" victim frame as "Gikawatan ko", with the agent marked by "sa". "Usa ka tawo" means one person. The root "dunggab" means to stab with a knife.

34. Adunay misulod sa akong kwarto.

    A-du-nay mi-su-lod sa a-kong kwar-to.

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Reports to the hotel or the police that your room was entered while you were out

    Grammar Note

    The existential "Adunay ..." (there is ...) followed by the completed form of the root "sulod" (to enter) and the possessive "akong" (my) with "kwarto" (room).

35. Kadto nga tawo ang tagsala.

    Kad-to nga ta-wo ang tag-sa-la.

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Points out the offender to the police

    Grammar Note

    An equational sentence with the predicate taken by the ang marker. The distal demonstrative is "Kadto" and "tawo" means person. "Tagsala" means "culprit"; it is the root "sala" (fault, offence) with the tag- prefix of possession.

36. Gilimbongan ko.

    Gi-lim-bo-ngan ko.

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Says that you were cheated or scammed

    Grammar Note

    The same victim frame as "Gikawatan ko". The root "limbong" means to cheat or deceive (as in "Ayaw ako limbongi" — do not cheat me).

37. Gikawat ang akong pitaka.

    Gi-ka-wat ang a-kong pi-ta-ka.

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Reports the theft of your wallet to the police or your hotel

    Grammar Note

    Uses the completed form of the root "kawat" (to steal) with the stolen item in the ang-form. The noun phrase takes the "ang akong + noun" shape (my ...), and "pitaka" means wallet.

38. Nabilin ang akong bag.

    Na-bi-lin ang a-kong bag.

    I left my bag behind

    Usage

    Says that you left your bag behind on a vehicle or in a shop

    Grammar Note

    Uses the accidental na- form, as in "Nasakitan ko". The noun phrase "akong bag" means my bag.

39. Adunay aksidente sa dalan.

    A-du-nay ak-si-den-te sa da-lan.

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Reports a road accident

    Grammar Note

    The existential "Adunay aksidente." (there is an accident) with the location "sa dalan" (on the road) added.

40. Nabanggaan ko sa sakyanan.

    Na-bang-ga-an ko sa sak-ya-nan.

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tells responders or police that a car hit you

    Grammar Note

    The same accidental "na-…-an + ang-form ko" victim frame as "Nasakitan ko", with the agent marked by "sa". "Sakyanan" means vehicle, and the root "bangga" means to collide or crash.

41. Palihug gawas sa Fire Exit.

    Pa-li-hug ga-was sa Fire Exit.

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Directs people to the escape route. Emergency exits in the Philippines are signposted in English as "Fire Exit"

    Grammar Note

    The "Palihug + verb" request frame with the root "gawas" (to go out). The signage term "Fire Exit" is kept in English.

42. Ayaw! Delikado!

    A-yaw! De-li-ka-do!

    Don't! It is dangerous!

    Usage

    Stops someone and warns them of an immediate danger

    Grammar Note

    A two-word shape: the prohibition "Ayaw!" (don't) followed by the danger word "Delikado" (dangerous).

43. Palihug anhi karon dayon.

    Pa-li-hug an-hi ka-ron da-yon.

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Asks someone — on the phone, for instance — to come immediately

    Grammar Note

    The "Palihug + verb" request frame with the root of "Moanhi" (to come) and "Karon dayon" (right now). Actor-focus imperatives drop the mo- prefix.

44. Emergency kini.

    E-mer-gen-cy ki-ni.

    It is an emergency

    Usage

    States that the situation is urgent — to be seen ahead of a queue, for instance

    Grammar Note

    A predicate-initial equational sentence: "X kini" = "this is X". In medical and safety contexts the English word "emergency" is used as is.

45. Palihug dad-a ko sa ospital.

    Pa-li-hug dad-a ko sa os-pi-tal.

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Asks a taxi driver or a bystander to take you to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    The "Palihug + verb + ko" request frame with "dad-a", the patient-focus imperative of the root "dala" (to carry). The person being taken stands in the ang-form.

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