English → Bisaya · Greetings

“How are you” in Bisaya: Kumusta

The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for “How are you” is Kumusta, pronounced koo-moos-TAH. It's used as a greeting in everyday Cebuano conversation across the Visayas and Mindanao, where over 22 million people speak Bisaya as their native language.

Bisaya translation

Kumusta

koo-moos-TAH

English meaning
How are you / Hello
Part of speech
greeting

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.

Example sentences

  • Kumusta ka? Maayo man ko.

    “How are you? I'm fine.”

Usage note

Universal Filipino greeting that works in any situation.

Related Bisaya words

Maayo

Good / Fine / Well

mah-AH-yo

Salamat

Thank you

sah-LAH-maht

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "How are you" in Bisaya?
The Bisaya (Cebuano) word for "How are you" is Kumusta, pronounced koo-moos-TAH.
How do you pronounce "Kumusta"?
Pronounce it as koo-moos-TAH. Capitalized syllables indicate stress.
What does "Kumusta" mean in English?
"Kumusta" means "How are you / Hello" in English. It functions as a greeting in everyday Cebuano conversation.
How do you use "Kumusta" in a sentence?
Example: "Kumusta ka? Maayo man ko." — How are you? I'm fine.
Is Bisaya the same as Cebuano?
Yes — Bisaya and Cebuano are two names for the same language. Cebuano is the more formal linguistic name, while Bisaya is the everyday name used by speakers themselves. Both refer to the language spoken by 22+ million Filipinos. Read more in our Bisaya vs Binisaya guide.

Continue learning Bisaya

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Browse the full Bisaya dictionary, compare words across all five Visayan languages, or jump into our beginner's guide.

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