Interrogative Words and Expressions

The interrogative words of Hiligaynon are as follows: diin, san-o, sin-o, nga-a, kamusta, ano, and pila

Example: Diin means where.

Diin ka na? "Where are you now?"

A derivation of diin, tagadiin, is used to inquire the birthplace or hometown of the listener. Example: Tagadiin ka? "Where are you from?"

San-o means when

Example: San-o inâ? "When is that?"

Sin-o means who

Example: Sin-o imo abyan? "Who is your friend?"

Nga-a means why

Example: Nga-a indi ka magkadto? "Why won't you go?"

Kamusta means how, as in "How are you?"

Example: Kamusta ang tindahan? "How is the store?"

Ano means what-----A derivative of ano, paano, means how, as in "How do I do that?"

Example: Ano ang imo ginabasa? "What are you reading?"

Paano ko makapulî? "How can I get home?"

A derivative of paano is paanoano an archaic phrase which can be compared with kamusta

Example: Paanoano ikaw? "How art thou?"

A derivative of pila, ikapila, asks the numerical order of the person, as in, "What place were you born in your family?"(first-born, second-born, etc.) This word is notoriously difficult to translate into English, as English has no equivalent. Pila means how much/how many

Example: Pila ang maupod sa imo? "How many are with you?"

Example: Ikapila ka sa inyo pamilya? "What place were you born into your family?"

A derivative of pila, tagpila, asks the monetary value of something, as in, "How much is this beef?"

Example: Tagpila ina nga karne? "How much is this beef?