PinyaHow to Say Hello in Tagalog - Kamusta
Learn how to say 'hello' and 'how are you' in Tagalog. Master the pronunciation of Kamusta, common responses, and variations like 'Kamusta ka?'.
What is Kamusta?
"Kamusta" is the Tagalog equivalent of "How are you?"
It comes from the Spanish "¿Cómo está?" - a reflection of the Philippines' colonial history.
Basic Usage
| Phrase | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Kamusta? | How are you? | Casual |
| Kamusta ka? | How are you? | General |
| Kamusta po kayo? | How are you? | Polite/Formal |
How to Respond
When someone asks "Kamusta?", you can reply:
- Mabuti - I'm fine
- Mabuti naman - I'm doing okay
- Mabuti po - I'm fine (polite)
- Ayos lang - I'm alright (casual)
Example Conversation
A: Kamusta ka? (How are you?)
B: Mabuti naman. Ikaw? (I'm okay. You?)
A: Mabuti rin! (I'm good too!)
Pronunciation Tips
- Pronounce it as Ka-mus-ta with 3 syllables
- Put the accent on "mus"
- End with a clear "ta"
Variations
While "Kamusta" works any time of day, you can also be more specific:
- Kamusta ang araw mo? - How's your day?
- Kamusta ang trabaho? - How's work?
- Kamusta ang pamilya mo? - How's your family?
Practice with native speaker pronunciation on the Pinya app!