akong asawa
The phrase asawa ko means "my spouse" in Bisaya.
This phrase is used to refer to one's own spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase asawa ko is composed of asawa, meaning "spouse" and the enclitic pronoun ko, meaning "my" or "me".
Which one should you use?
While asawa ko is grammatically correct, the form akong asawa is often more natural in spoken Bisaya when you are introducing your spouse to other people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form akong asawa is a common alternative where the possessive pronoun akong (my) is used as a single unit.
Did you know?
- The word asawa is used for both husbands and wives in Bisaya, unlike the English distinction between 'husband' and 'wife'.
- The word asawa descends from the Proto-Austronesian root *qasawa, marking it as one of the most stable words in the language family over thousands of years.
- In some traditional contexts, the term asawa can be used to refer to a partner in a common-law marriage even if no official wedding took place. It defines the social role and relationship rather than just a legal status.
Examples in context
- Buotan kaayo akong asawa.My wife is very kind.
- Nia ra akong asawa sa balay.My wife is just here at home.
- Gikapoy akong asawa sa trabaho.My wife is tired from work.
Example conversation
Ana and Jun are introducing their partners at a gathering.
- AnaKinsa man siya, Jun?Who is he, Jun?
- JunSiya ang akong asawa.This is my spouse.
- AnaKumusta mo, Ana.How are you, Ana.
- JunMaayo man mi, salamat.We are doing well, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asawa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
