kumusta
The Bisaya phrase "kamusta" is used to say "hello" or "how are you?"
The phrase is a greeting used to ask someone how they are doing. A common way to expand this into a more personal, informal question regarding someone's well-being is to say Kumusta ka na?, which translates to "how are you now?"
Which one should you use?
While kamusta is a common spelling, kumusta is the more standard spelling used in many Bisaya-speaking regions.
When do people say it?
When someone asks kumusta, a common response is Maayo (Good) or Maayo man (I am doing good).
Did you know?
- The word kumusta is a phonetic adaptation of the Spanish phrase cómo está.
- In some Bisaya-speaking regions, the greeting is so common that it functions almost like a 'verbal nod', used even when you are just passing someone on the street without stopping.
- Depending on the tone, kumusta? can be used as a rhetorical question to express surprise or disbelief at someone's current state.
Examples in context
- Maayo, salamat! Unsa may imong buhaton karon?I'm good, thank you! What are you up to now?
- Okay ra man gihapon, ikaw?I'm still okay, how about you?
- Kumusta ka?How are you?
- Kumusta ang imong pamilya?How is your family?
- Kumusta na ang imong trabaho?How is your work going?
Example conversation
Ana and Jun meet at a local park.
- AnaKumusta, Jun?How are you, Jun?
- JunMaayo man, Ana. Ikaw?I'm good, Ana. And you?
- AnaMaayo ra sab ko.I am also doing well.
- JunMaayo kung mao na.That is good to hear.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kumusta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
