ninyo

Second-Person Plural Genitive

Level 1

Ninyo is the plural version of 'your'. It is placed after the noun it modifies (e.g., balay ninyo). It also identifies who did an action in sentences focused on the object (e.g., gibuhat ninyo) and follows prepositions like para in casual speech.

How It Works

1. Possession (Plural 'Your')
Ninyo is used when an item belongs to two or more people. It is an enclitic, meaning it must follow the noun.
Example: Kape ninyo (Your [plural] coffee).

2. The Ergative Actor
When using verbs with the gi- or -on prefixes, the person doing the action is marked with a genitive pronoun. Ninyo indicates that 'you all' performed the action.
Example: Gipalit ninyo ang isda (The fish was bought by you all).

3. Enclitic Placement and the 'Wala' Rule
As an enclitic, ninyo usually follows the first word of the phrase. If a sentence starts with a negator like wala, the pronoun must jump to the second position, immediately after the negator.
Example: Wala ninyo gikaon ang isda (You all did not eat the fish).

4. Usage with Prepositions
In casual speech, ninyo is used after para (for). However, in formal contexts, the oblique form kaninyo is preferred.
Example: Para ninyo kini (This is for you all).

5. Respect and Titles
While some regions use ninyo for plural respect toward a single elder, it is much more common and natural to use the singular nimo combined with a title like 'Tay', 'Nay', or 'Ser'.

Examples (5)

  1. Hain na ang mga ginikanan ninyo?

    Where are your (plural) parents?

    Word by Word: Where now the [plural] parents your?

    Here, 'ninyo' shows that the parents belong to the group being addressed.

  2. Wala ninyo gikaon ang pagkaon.

    You all did not eat the food.

    Word by Word: Not by-you-all was-eaten the food.

    This shows the 'Wala' rule: 'ninyo' moves to the second position, right after the negator.

  3. Gikaon ninyo ang tanang pagkaon.

    You all ate all the food.

    Word by Word: Was-eaten by-you-all the all food.

    In this patient-focus sentence, 'ninyo' identifies the group who performed the action of eating.

  4. Para ninyo kining mga prutas.

    These fruits are for you all.

    Word by Word: For you-all these [plural] fruit.

    The pronoun 'ninyo' is used after the preposition 'para' to indicate the recipients in casual speech.

  5. Asa nyo gibutang ang yawe?

    Where did you all put the key?

    Word by Word: Where by-you-all was-placed the key?

    This demonstrates the common casual contraction 'nyo' instead of the full 'ninyo'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ninyo' at the start of a sentence as a subject.

    Ninyo moadto sa merkado.
    Kamo moadto sa merkado.

    Ninyo is a genitive pronoun and cannot be the subject (focus) of a sentence. Use 'Kamo' instead.

  • Placing 'ninyo' before the noun.

    Ninyo balay.
    Balay ninyo.

    Ninyo must always follow the word it modifies. If you want to put the pronoun first, you must use 'inyong'.

  • Starting the clause with the short pronoun 'ninyo'.

    Ninyo wala gipalit ang isda.
    Wala ninyo gipalit ang isda.

    A short pronoun like 'ninyo' does not start a clause. It usually follows 'wala': 'Wala ninyo gipalit ang isda.'

How It Connects

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ninyoLevel 1Second-Person Plural Genitive

Learn This First

To understand 'ninyo', a learner needs to be familiar with the Cebuano pronoun system, specifically the distinction between focused and genitive forms, and the concept of second-person plural address.

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ninyo