How are you? (2024)

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The Filipinos use various expressions in certain situations. Filipinos are communicative and very expressive of what they want to convey. There are Filipino expressions that you may hear quite often from familiar situations you might get yourself into. Try getting yourself accustomed with these Filipino words.

How Are You

"Kumustá" is a Filipino expression you will frequently hear from your family and friends. It is adapted from the Spanish phrase “como esta”, which means “how are you”? This expression is not necessarily asking how you are, but can be interpreted as a simple “hi” or “hello” in the Filipino cultural context.

Responses to "How Are You?"

You can respond to these expressions by saying “mabuti”, which means “fine” in English. To show appreciation to the greeting, the word "kumustá" may also be followed by the word “salamat”, which means "Thank you." You might also want to return the favor by asking how they are, too, to show concern. Words such as “Ikáw?” (casual) or “Kayó?” (polite) can be used for this.

In a colloquial or informal manner, many Filipinos answer with terminologies such as “ayos” or “okey”. These connote the equivalent definition of the word “fine”. “Good”/“Well”/”Great” or some words that can capture the essence these words.

Take note that responses such as mabuti, ayos, and okey are synonymous terms, implying that one is in a good situation or fine condition. Still, these terms should be used in appropriate situations. The word "mabuti is more fitting to use when talking to an older person or a person with a high ranking in society or workplace such as your teachers, parents, government officials, and supervisors. You can use the terms "ayos" or "okey" when you are having a casual conversation with a friend or a colleague.

Sample Conversation:

Let’s see a sample conversation for this lesson:

You can freely choose whichever response you want to use for the question “kumustá.” There are no strict rules when using the traditional or colloquial forms of responses. Filipinos do understand what you try to express whether “mabuti”, “ayos”, or “okey” is the word you choose to respond. The traditional type of response might be more suitable for official documents and formal events. The colloquial types of responses is appropriate for light toned conversations (can be used with friends and family).

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