How to Say “How are you” in Bisaya: Kumusta

How to pronounce Kumusta

Say it as koo-moos-TAH. Capitalized syllables in the pronunciation guide indicate stress — the part of the word you emphasize when speaking. Bisaya stress is meaningful: putting it on the wrong syllable can change the meaning of a word, so it's worth practicing out loud.

Common Variations of “How are you” in Bisaya

There are several ways to express this in Bisaya depending on context, formality, and who you are speaking to.

• StandardKumusta ka?koo-MOOS-tah kah

  Universal — works in any situation, with anyone

• CasualMusta?MOOS-tah

  With close friends; a quick shortened form

• Casual (with pronoun)Musta ka?MOOS-tah kah

  Slightly fuller casual version — common among friends your age

• Group / pluralKumusta mo?koo-MOOS-tah moh

  Greeting multiple people at once ("How are you all?")

• Past-tense / reunionKumusta na ka?koo-MOOS-tah nah kah

  "How have you been?" — implies you haven't seen them in a while

• Asking about someone's healthKumusta ang imong lawas?koo-MOOS-tah ahng EE-mohng lah-WAHS

  Specifically asking "How is your health/body?" — appropriate for elders

Example sentences

• Everyday greeting

  Kumusta ka?

  “How are you?”

• Reunion with an old friend

  Kumusta na ka? Dugay na ta wala nagkita.

  “How have you been? It's been so long since we've seen each other.”

• Asking about family

  Kumusta ang imong pamilya?

  “How is your family?”

• Casual workplace greeting

  Kumusta man, boss? Okay ba ang trabaho?

  “How are you, boss? Is work going okay?”

• Talking to an elder

  Kumusta, lola? Maayo ba ang imong lawas?

  “How are you, grandma? Is your health good?”

• Text message / informal check-in

  Musta? Naa ka sa balay?

  “Hey, how are you? Are you home?”

How to respond to “Kumusta”

When someone says “Kumusta” to you, here are the most common replies native speakers use:

• Maayo man ko, salamat.mah-AH-yoh mahn koh, sah-LAH-maht

  “I'm fine, thank you.”

  Standard reply

• Okay ra ko.OH-kay rah koh

  “I'm just okay. / I'm alright.”

  Neutral — not great, not bad

• Maayo ra, ikaw?mah-AH-yoh rah, ee-KAW

  “Fine, and you?”

  Polite return question

• Kapoy kaayo.kah-POY kah-AH-yoh

  “So tired. / Exhausted.”

  Honest, informal reply

• Mao ra gihapon.mah-OH rah gee-HA-pohn

  “Same as always.”

  Casual, slightly wry reply

• Ambot lang.AHM-boht lahng

  “Who knows. / I don't even know.”

  Joking or deflecting

Cultural context

"Kumusta" comes from the Spanish "¿Cómo está?" and has been used across the Philippines since the colonial period — making it one of the rare words shared by both Bisaya and Tagalog speakers without any change. Unlike English "How are you?", which is often rhetorical, Bisaya speakers typically expect a genuine response, especially from younger people answering an elder. Answering "Maayo" (good) with a smile is standard and positive, while sharing real worries is reserved for close family. The casual shortening "Musta?" is beloved by younger Cebuanos and is the most common form in text messages and social media. Saying "Musta?" to an elder instead of "Kumusta?" may be perceived as overly casual — stick with the full form when in doubt.

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