Guide · Tagalog words
Kumustahin, kumusta and kamusta in English
Kumustahin means “to ask how someone is doing” or “to check on someone”. Kumusta (also spelled kamusta) means “how are you?” and works as “hello”. Nagkumustahan means “caught up with each other”. All three come from the same Filipino greeting.
Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.
Describe one thing that feels different about you lately.
I-describe ang isang bagay na parang nag-iba sa'yo lately.
Change often shows up quietly before anyone else notices. Giving it words helps you see it more clearly.
Minsan tahimik lang dumadating ang pagbabago bago mapansin ng iba. Kapag nilagyan mo ng words, mas malinaw mo siyang nakikita.
In short
The idea
If someone texts you “kumustahin mo naman si Mama”, they’re asking you to check on Mom, to call and ask how she is. If a friend says “Kumusta?” in the hallway, it’s “Hi, how are you?”. And if you hear that two cousins nagkumustahan at the reunion, they caught up with each other.
All of these come from kumusta, the everyday Filipino greeting, which comes from the Spanish ¿cómo está? (how are you?). Tagalog builds verbs and nouns from it with prefixes and suffixes, so one root covers greeting, checking on someone, sending regards and catching up. For the noun kumustahan and the spelling question, see what kumustahan means.
The kumusta family of words
Here is each form with its English meaning and an everyday example.
| Word | In English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kumusta / kamusta | How are you? Hello. | “Kumusta ka?” How are you? |
| kumusta na? | How have you been? | “Uy, kumusta na?” Hey, how have you been? |
| kumustahin | To ask how someone is; to check on someone | “Kumustahin mo si Lola.” Go check on Lola. |
| kinumusta | Asked how someone was (past) | “Kinumusta ka ni Tita.” Tita asked how you were. |
| mangumusta | To say hello; to ask after someone | “Nangumusta siya sa’yo.” She said hi to you. |
| pakikumusta | Please give my regards | “Pakikumusta mo ako kay Ben.” Say hi to Ben for me. |
| nagkumustahan | Caught up with each other | “Nagkumustahan kami kagabi.” We caught up last night. |
| kumustahan | Catching up; a check-in | “Kumustahan tayo soon.” Let’s catch up soon. |
Kumusta or kamusta?
Both are everywhere, and both mean the same thing. Kumusta is the standard spelling; kamusta is the common informal one, closer to how the word sounds when said quickly. You’ll see kamustahin and kumustahin the same way. Either is understood.
Polite forms add po: “Kumusta po kayo?” is how you greet an elder, a teacher or your partner’s parents. The kayo (plural “you”) also shows respect when said to one person.
How to answer “kumusta?”
A few everyday answers, from polite to honest:
- “Mabuti naman, ikaw?” I’m good, and you?
- “Okay lang” or “Ayos lang.” I’m okay. (Often what people say when they aren’t.)
- “Heto, buhay pa.” Here, still alive. A joking “hanging in there”.
- “Medyo pagod, pero okay.” A bit tired, but okay.
- “Ang dami kong kuwento!” I have so much to tell you!
How to really kumustahin someone
The first “kumusta?” is a greeting. To actually check on someone, ask a second, smaller question: what word describes their week, what feels different about them lately, what they’re carrying that people might not notice. Specific questions are easier to answer honestly than “how are you, really?”
That is what the cards on this page are for, and what the whole Kumustahan app is named after. For a Tagalog-first version of this, see paano kumustahin ang isang tao.
The questions
Questions for when you want to kumustahin someone for real
A kumusta usually gets “okay lang”. These cards are the second question, small enough to answer honestly. Each one is in English and Filipino.
Kumusta, but specific
4 questions
Easier to answer than “how are you?”
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What word would describe your week so far?
Anong word ang babagay sa week mo so far?
Back of the card
Sometimes one word is enough to begin. Naming the week can help you notice what your heart has been carrying.
Minsan sapat na ang isang word para makapagsimula. Kapag napangalanan mo ang week mo, mas nakikita mo kung ano ang bitbit mo.
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Tell us about one simple thing that can make your day better.
Ikuwento mo yung simpleng bagay na nakakapagpaganda ng araw mo.
Back of the card
Small things count because real days are mostly made of small things. Even a tiny lift can matter.
May bigat din ang simpleng bagay, kasi karamihan ng araw natin puro maliliit na moments. Kahit konting gaan, may halaga.
-
Describe one thing that feels different about you lately.
I-describe ang isang bagay na parang nag-iba sa'yo lately.
Back of the card
Change often shows up quietly before anyone else notices. Giving it words helps you see it more clearly.
Minsan tahimik lang dumadating ang pagbabago bago mapansin ng iba. Kapag nilagyan mo ng words, mas malinaw mo siyang nakikita.
-
Point to one pattern you notice in your week, like energy, mood, time, habits, or relationships.
Magbanggit ng isang pattern na napapansin mo sa week mo, like energy, mood, time, habits, o relationships.
Back of the card
Understanding a pattern is already movement. You do not have to fix everything before you begin to notice.
Movement na rin yung maintindihan ang pattern. Hindi mo kailangang ayusin agad lahat bago ka magsimulang makapansin.
Kumustahin someone who seems tired
6 questions
For the friend, parent or coworker who keeps saying they’re fine.
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What has your body or mood been telling you these days?
Ano ang sinasabi ng katawan o mood mo sa'yo lately?
Back of the card
Your tiredness, restlessness, or steadiness can give honest signals. Listening can help you choose with more care, not just more effort.
Yung pagod, restlessness, o pagiging steady mo pwedeng magbigay ng honest signals. Kapag pinakinggan mo, mas makakapili ka nang may care, hindi puro effort lang.
-
Name one pressure you may have gotten used to carrying lately.
Magbanggit ng isang pressure na baka nasanay ka nang dalhin lately.
Back of the card
Some pressure becomes familiar, but familiar does not always mean light. You can notice it without needing to solve it tonight.
May pressure na nasasanayan, pero hindi ibig sabihin magaan na siya. Puwede mo munang mapansin bago ayusin.
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Name something you are carrying this week that people may not notice.
Magsabi ng isang bitbit mo this week na baka hindi napapansin ng iba.
Back of the card
Not every weight is visible. Being honest about what you carry can make the load feel less unnamed.
Hindi lahat ng bigat nakikita. Kapag honest ka sa bitbit mo, kahit hindi agad gumaan, hindi na siya sobrang labo.
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Share something you wish people understood about your life lately.
Ikuwento ang gusto mong maintindihan ng mga tao tungkol sa buhay mo lately.
Back of the card
You can keep this general or pass. Which part of your day would help someone understand your answer?
Puwedeng general lang o mag-pass. Anong part ng araw mo ang makakatulong para maintindihan nila ang sagot mo?
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Where do you feel like you do not have to adjust yourself too much these days?
Saan mo nararamdaman lately na hindi mo kailangang masyadong i-adjust sarili mo?
Back of the card
The places where you feel like yourself can teach you what helps you breathe, belong, and come back to center.
Yung mga lugar na parang ikaw ka talaga, may tinuturo. Baka doon ka mas nakakahinga, nakakagaan, o nakakabalik sa sarili.
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Where do you need a little more courage this week?
Saan mo kailangan ng konting dagdag courage this week?
Back of the card
Courage does not always look big. Sometimes it is one honest message, one boundary, or one careful next step.
Hindi laging malaki ang courage. Minsan isang honest message, isang boundary, o isang maingat na next step lang.
After a long time apart
5 questions
For the first kumustahan in months.
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What simple invitation could brighten a friend's ordinary day?
Anong simpleng yaya ang puwedeng magpasaya sa normal na araw ng friend?
Back of the card
Keep the invitation short enough to send as one message.
Puwedeng maikli lang ang yaya, kasya sa isang message.
-
How would you like friends to react when you share good news?
Paano mo gustong mag-react ang friends kapag may good news ka?
Back of the card
A loud cheer or a quiet “I'm happy for you” — which fits this news?
Malakas na cheer o tahimik na “Masaya ako para sa'yo” — alin ang bagay sa balitang ito?
-
Who do you wish you could spend more normal, no-special-plan time with?
Sino yung gusto mong makasama nang mas madalas, kahit walang special na lakad?
Back of the card
Ordinary time can build closeness slowly. Not every good moment needs an occasion.
Nakakabuo rin ng closeness ang ordinaryong time. Hindi lahat ng magandang moment kailangan may special na lakad.
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If you and your friends had just one free hour, how would you spend it together?
Kung isang oras lang kayong lahat libre, ano ang gagawin ninyo?
Back of the card
Save a few minutes at the end for one thing you would not want to rush.
Puwede kang maglaan ng ilang minuto sa dulo para sa bagay na ayaw mong madaliin.
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What makes sharing a quiet moment with a friend comfortable for you?
Ano ang nagpapakomportable sa'yo kapag tahimik lang kayo ng friend?
Back of the card
The silence can stay silent. You do not need to fill it for this answer.
Puwedeng manatiling tahimik. Hindi kailangang punuin ng usapan para sa sagot na ito.
Kumustahin and kumusta in English
Frequently asked questions
What is kumustahin in English?
Kumustahin means “to ask how someone is doing” or “to check on someone.” “Kumustahin mo si Lola” means “check on Lola” or “ask Lola how she is.”
What does kumusta mean in English?
Kumusta means “how are you?” and is also used as “hello.” It comes from the Spanish “¿cómo está?”. “Kumusta ka?” is “how are you?”; “Kumusta po kayo?” is the polite form for elders.
Is it kumusta or kamusta?
Kumusta is the standard spelling and kamusta is a very common informal spelling. They mean the same thing.
What does nagkumustahan mean?
Nagkumustahan means people asked how each other were doing, in other words they caught up. “Nagkumustahan kami” means “we caught up with each other.”
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