How to Greet People from the Philippines?

If you’re a foreigner who wants to travel to or live in the Philippines, you should become familiar with how to introduce yourself to locals.

The majority of Filipinos are kind and approachable, and many of them are fluent in English. Yet, learning a little bit of Filipino or Tagalog—the language from which Filipino was mostly derived—can go a long way towards fostering respect and camaraderie.

There are certain simple techniques for being nice and friendly that you may learn if you want to greet people in the Philippines in the same manner that they greet one another.

Learn the Fundamentals

Keep in mind that practically of Tagalog and Filipino are written phonetically. This indicates that words can be pronounced. If you pronounce it as you see it, you will probably get close to getting the right pronunciation.

Vowels are softer than in a British accent but harder than in American English. All vowels, with the exception of /o/, are also unrounded.

However, there are several exceptions: ng is pronounced “nang,” and mga is “muhNGA.” The single character “-ng” is pronounced like “bang” or “song.”

Is it Kamusta or Kumusta? What Should I Spell It?

The Philippines were governed by Spain for 333 years, as you are surely aware if you are familiar with Filipino history and culture. Prior to the arrival of outsiders, Baybayin, an indigenous Indic alphabet used primarily by the Tagalog people of Luzon, served as the primary means of communication for the Filipinos. The Spaniards initially made an effort to pick up the language and adopt a Filipino way of thinking. Yet, as colonization spread over more territory, it was the Filipino people who were compelled to learn Spanish.

It is why a lot of the words and idioms used by Pinoys sound like they were lifted directly from a Handy Manny or Dora the Explorer episode. Kumusta is not an outlier.

The Filipino language has various variations of words spelt or pronounced differently, just like any other language. These variations may be attributed to the archipelago’s 175 different dialects. The language of the Philippines is intriguing because of this, though. Speaking about variations, kamusta is essentially a kumusta variety. Therefore, rather than using an “a,” the original spelling uses a “u.”

Yet, that isn’t the primary explanation. The greeting “Cómo está?” which translates to “How are you?” should be very familiar to you if you enjoy the Spanish language.

That’s accurate. The Spanish phrase “How are you?” is exactly where the Filipino “kumusta” comes from. Hence, kumusta is more appropriate than kamusta.

Yet, the two are interchangeable, and many Filipinos nowadays really prefer to use kamusta. So when you write, be sure to choose one version and stick with it. We’ll refer to this situation using the correct term, which is kumusta.

Let’s learn how to say “hello” in the Philippines, or more specifically, how to say “hello” in the Filipino language, now that that’s out of the way.

When to Use the Filipino Expression “Hello” or “Kumusta”

So, what is the proper greeting in the Philippines?

Here, we’ll go through a few alternative Filipino expressions for “Hey, how are you?” Unlike the English greeting “hello,” the Filipino greeting “kumusta” can be used in a variety of contexts with slightly different connotations.

Mano

Mano, also known as pagmamano, is an “honouring gesture” used in Filipino culture to show respect for elders and to ask for their blessing. The individual extending the greeting bows towards the elder’s hand and rests their forehead against it, similar to hand-kissing.

Shake hands with everyone.

In Filipino culture, shaking hands is often preferred when meeting someone for the first time. Usually, a gentle handshake is used here, not one that is too forceful.

It’s not customary to give a new acquaintance a hug or a kiss on the cheek when you first meet them. This is typically saved for after you’ve established a relationship.

There may be distinct standards for touching, particularly between men and women if you are in a Muslim region of the Philippines. Although men may need to start the handshake, it may still be appropriate. Take note of what those around you are doing and imitate them.

A. “How are you?” Kumusta ka?

As was previously said, “How are you?” is the most straightforward translation of Kumusta ka? When addressing a friend, especially one you haven’t seen in a while, this expression is most frequently used. Even though it has only been 24 hours since you last saw someone, it is still OK to ask them kumusta. Kumusta ka? might thus be translated as “How are you today?”

You can use this salutation to say hello to people you pass in the hall or on the street. Since Filipinos are by nature kind people, they will undoubtedly return the favour by grinning or greeting you back.

B. How have you been?/How are you right now? Kumusta ka na?

The meaning of kumusta ka is altered when the adverb na is added. The question is now “How have you been?” rather than “How are you?” and it implies that you haven’t seen the person in a while. When assessing a person’s condition, this expression is also employed. You might ask this question to your coworker to demonstrate concern if they have been absent due to illness, for example. That translates to “How are you now” in this instance.

C. Musta?

This is kumusta’s condensed form. When addressing a close friend or relative, this is frequently used.

D. What’s up? Anong balita?

The word “news” in Filipino is “balita.” Pinoys are typically honest and don’t feel awkward when they inquire about the personal lives of their close friends. Anong balita is a Filipino greeting that essentially means “What’s new in your life?” Yet, this isn’t always the case. The phrase “barkada” simply means “extremely close friends” and is a casual greeting.

E. It’s been a while

What greeting do Filipinos use? Occasionally in English! Although it is pidgin English, Filipinos frequently use this greeting when they haven’t seen someone in a while.

F. Hoy! N’t ka lang nagpakita ba at? – “Hey! What have you been doing for so long?

This is a casual approach to welcoming a very close buddy who hasn’t joined the group in a while.

Conclusion

The Philippines has several different languages, which is the first thing one needs to understand about them. They are a host of various cultural groups that speak different languages and dialects (not to mention foreign influences that enriched our languages). In addition to the widespread use of English in this area, Tagalog is also the basis for the Filipino vernacular. This still bothers some people who are part of other ethnolinguistic groupings. That merits its own article.

To answer your question, many Filipinos use the word “maganda” to characterize each section of the day when they meet friends, family, or anybody else. I’ll use the word “maganda,” which in its literal sense means “beautiful,” for this piece.