Food & Drinks

1. Unsay ngalan niini?

   Un-say nga-lan ni-i-ni?

   What is the name of this?

   Usage

   Asking the name of a food item

   Grammar Note

   "Unsay" is "unsa" (what) + linker "-y". "Niini" is the genitive form of "this".

2. Lami kaayo

   La-mi ka-a-yo

   Very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting delicious food

   Grammar Note

   "Kaayo" is an intensifier meaning "very". "Lami" is Cebuano for delicious, equivalent to Tagalog "masarap".

3. Dili ko mokaon og karne

   Di-li ko mo-ka-on og kar-ne

   I don't eat meat

   Usage

   Stating a dietary restriction

   Grammar Note

   "Og" is the object focus marker. "Karne" is borrowed from Spanish. "Mo-" prefix creates future/habitual verb form.

4. Pila ang presyo?

   Pi-la ang pre-syo?

   How much is the price?

   Usage

   Asking the price of food or drink

   Grammar Note

   "Pila" is the interrogative for "how much". "Presyo" comes from Spanish "precio". Many Filipino languages contain Spanish vocabulary.

5. Asa ang pinakabantog nga kaon-anan?

   A-sa ang pi-na-ka-ban-tog nga ka-on-a-nan?

   Where is the most popular restaurant?

   Usage

   Finding the most popular local restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Pinaka-" forms superlatives. "Kaon-anan" is a place noun derived from "kaon" (eat) using the suffix "-anan".

6. Dili kaayo maasin, palihug

   Di-li ka-a-yo ma-a-sin, pa-li-hug

   Not too salty, please

   Usage

   Requesting less salt in the food

   Grammar Note

   "Dili kaayo" expresses "not too much". "Maasin" derives from "asin" (salt). Compare: "maanghang" (spicy), "matam-is" (sweet).

7. Aduna ba'y menu?

   A-du-na ba'y me-nu?

   Is there a menu?

   Usage

   Asking for a menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Aduna" means "there is", opposite of "wala" (none). "Ba" is the question particle. "Ba'y" is a contraction of "ba ay".

8. Unsa ang sulod niini?

   Un-sa ang su-lod ni-i-ni?

   What are the ingredients of this?

   Usage

   Checking ingredients or allergens

   Grammar Note

   "Sulod" means inside/contents. If you have an allergy, follow with "Allergic ko sa..." (I am allergic to...).

9. Pwede ba akong magdala?

   Pwe-de ba a-kong mag-da-la?

   Can I take this to go?

   Usage

   Asking to take food to go or take away

   Grammar Note

   "Pwede" comes from Spanish "puede" (can). "Magdala" means to bring/take. More casual: "Pakuha nalang" (just take it out).

10. Unsa ang imong irekomendar?

    Un-sa ang i-mong i-re-ko-men-dar?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Asking a local or server for their recommendation

    Grammar Note

    "Irekomendar" = Spanish "recomendar" + Cebuano prefix "i-". Cebu's famous local dish to ask about: "lechon" (whole roasted pig).

11. Anghang

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Chilli heat, not saltiness — check the heat level when ordering

12. Tam-is

    Sweet

    Usage

    Check or ask for sweetness in the seasoning

13. Hilaw

    Raw / uncooked

    Usage

    Asks whether food is cooked; applied to fruit the same word means unripe, so point at the dish as you show it

14. Kan-on

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Cooked rice; uncooked rice is a different word, bugas

15. Pan

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at this to order or buy bread

16. Pansit

    Noodles

    Usage

    The word for noodles; in Cebu it also covers noodle dishes in general

17. Sabaw

    Soup / broth

    Usage

    Point at this to order or ask about soup

18. Tokwa

    Tofu

    Usage

    Also useful when asking for a vegetarian option

19. Keso

    Cheese

    Usage

    Check for or order cheese

20. Dugos

    Honey

    Usage

    Point at this to ask for honey

21. Yogurt

    Usage

    Point at what you want in a supermarket or cafe

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