komusta
/komʊsˈta/
kamusta is the Kapampangan way to say how are you.
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone how they are doing. To turn the greeting into the direct question 'How are you?', you can add the pronoun ka (you) after the verb, forming Komusta ka?
Which one should you use?
komusta is the more standard spelling in Kapampangan, whereas kamusta is a common variant that is influenced by Tagalog.
How do you pronounce it?
/komʊsˈta/
Did you know?
- The phrase komusta is actually a linguistic fossil of the Spanish phrase cómo está, left behind from the colonial era.
- Kapampangan is a distinct language and not a dialect of Tagalog, meaning komusta belongs to a linguistic system with its own unique grammar and vocabulary.
- In some traditional Kapampangan settings, responding to komusta with too much detail about your health can be seen as an overshare, as the phrase often acts as a social lubricant rather than a genuine medical inquiry.
Examples in context
- Komusta ka?How are you?
- Komusta ing pamilya mu?How is your family?
Example conversation
Juan and Cristina meet at a local market.
- JuanKomusta, Cristina!Hello, Cristina!
- CristinaMayap naman, Juan. Komusta ka?I'm doing well, Juan. How are you?
- JuanMayap naman ku, salamat.I'm doing well, thanks.
- CristinaMasaya kung akit daka.I'm happy to see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry komusta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries komusta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
