cómo se dice
/komo se diθe/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "how to say" is cómo se dice.
You use this phrase to ask for the translation of a specific word or expression into another language. When asking a question, the most natural structure is ¿Cómo se dice [word] en [language]?
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, cómo se dice translates to "how it is said."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the impersonal se construction, which is why it translates to "how one says" or "how it is said" in English.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say cómo decir by translating "how to say" too literally. Instead, use the natural phrase cómo se dice.
Did you know?
- While cómo se dice asks for a translation, the similar-sounding ¿Cómo dice? is often used to ask someone to repeat what they just said, similar to 'What did you say?'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you forget a word and cannot use cómo se dice, you might use a filler word like esteee or osea while gesturing to the object.
- The word cómo actually descends from a non-literary version of the Latin word quōmodo, rather than the standard literary form.
Examples in context
- No sé cómo se dice en francés.I don't know how to say that in French.This example shows how to express that you do not know a translation in French using cómo se dice.Tatoeba #2482856 by Shishir, translation #2451302 by CK
- «¿De verdad crees que si añades una -o al final de cada palabra estás hablando español?» «No, pero si no sé cómo se dice una palabra vale la pena intentarlo.»"Do you really think that when you add an -o at the end of every word, you're speaking Spanish?" "No, but if I don't know how to say something, it's worth a shot."This example uses cómo se dice in a conversational context about the difficulty of learning a language.Tatoeba #10034789 by Shishir, translation #10637511 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Cómo se dice XXX en neerlandés?How to say XXX in Dutch?This example demonstrates the standard structure for asking how a specific term is said in Dutch.Tatoeba #10984683 by Adelpa, translation #388261 by sysko
Example conversation
Mateo is asking Sofía for help with a Spanish word.
- Mateo¿Cómo se dice «apple» en español?How do you say "apple" in Spanish?
- SofíaSe dice «manzana».You say "manzana".
- MateoGracias, Sofía.Thanks, Sofía.
- SofíaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
