y medya

Half Past

Level 2

In Cebuano, the standard way to express the half-hour (e.g., 2:30, 5:30) is by adding y medya after the hour. This follows the Spanish-derived time system used throughout the Visayas.

How It Works

While Cebuano has native words for 'half' (tunga) and 'thirty' (katloan), y medya is the idiomatic and most common choice for telling time. Note that 'treynta' is also commonly used but is Spanish-derived, not native. In modern speech, the native linker ug is sometimes used as an alternative to the Spanish 'y'.

Key Rules:

  • Spanish Numbers Only: You must use Spanish-derived numbers (uno, dos, tres...) rather than native Cebuano numbers (usa, duha, tulo...).
  • The Hour Marker: Use alas for the hour (ala for 1:00, alas for 2:00–12:00).
  • Pronunciation: The 'y' is pronounced like the English letter 'E'. In fast speech, it often blends with the preceding number (e.g., alas sais y medya sounds like sais-i-medya).
  • Word Order: The time of day always comes after the full time expression and must be preceded by the particle sa. Common markers include kadlawon (dawn/early morning), buntag (morning), udto (noon), hapon (afternoon), and gabii (evening). For example, alas dose y medya sa udto (12:30 PM) or ala una y medya sa kadlawon (1:30 AM).

Examples (4)

  1. Alas dos y medya na sa hapon.

    It is already 2:30 in the afternoon.

    Word by Word: Alas two and half already in afternoon.

    Note the use of 'alas' for the plural hour 'dos' and the placement of 'sa hapon' at the end.

  2. Magkita ta sa ala una y medya.

    Let's meet at 1:30.

    Word by Word: Will-meet we at ala one and half.

    For 1:30, we use 'ala' (singular) instead of 'alas'.

  3. Ang salida magsugod sa alas otso y medya sa gabii.

    The movie will start at 8:30 in the evening.

    Word by Word: The movie will-start at alas eight and half in evening.

    This is a standard way to announce a formal schedule or event time.

  4. Alas sais y medya ko momata matag buntag.

    I wake up at 6:30 every morning.

    Word by Word: Alas six and half I wake-up every morning.

    Shows the pattern used in a daily routine context.

Common Mistakes

  • Using native Cebuano numbers with 'y medya'.

    Alas tulo y medya.
    Alas tres y medya.

    Time-telling in Cebuano mostly uses Spanish-derived numbers. 'Alas tres y medya' is the usual form, and 'tulo' (native 3) is not used in the alas system.

  • Using 'alas' for 1:30.

    Alas una y medya.
    Ala una y medya.

    'Una' (one) is singular, so it requires the singular marker 'ala'. 'Alas' is for plural hours (2-12).

  • Putting 'sa buntag' before the hour.

    Different MeaningSa buntag alas siyete y medya.
    Alas siyete y medya sa buntag.

    'Sa buntag alas siyete y medya' is also good Cebuano. The pattern on this page gives the hour first and the part of the day after it: 'Alas siyete y medya sa buntag.'

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

y medyaLevel 2Half Past

Learn This First

To understand 'y medya' (half past), you first need to know how to tell basic clock time using the 'alas' system and be familiar with Spanish-derived numerals, as time-telling in Cebuano follows the Spanish format.