cómo se dice
/komo se diθe/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'how to say' is translated into Spanish as cómo se dice.
The phrase ¿Cómo se dice…? is typically used in an interrogative form when asking for a translation, such as ¿Cómo se dice [word] en [language]? For more formal situations, you can use ¿Cuál es la forma correcta de decirlo? to ask for the correct way of saying something or ¿Podría ayudarme a traducir? when seeking assistance with translation.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, cómo se dice means 'how it is said'. It uses the impersonal reflexive se rather than a direct translation of 'how to say'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico City, ¿Cómo se dice? is the most common way to ask 'how to say'. In Northern Mexico, locals may use ¿Cómo le dicen? instead of ¿Cómo se dice?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the impersonal se to mean 'one says' or 'it is said', which is the standard way to express 'how to say (it)' in Spanish.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say cómo decir when they mean 'how to say (it/one says)'. While cómo decir is grammatically possible in specific contexts, cómo se dice is the standard way to ask for a translation.
Did you know?
- The 'se' in cómo se dice was originally a different word entirely. It evolved from the Latin 'illī' (meaning 'to him/her/it'), which in Old Spanish appeared as 'ge' before being reanalyzed by speakers as 'se'.
- In certain contexts, saying cómo decir is used as a filler phrase, similar to saying 'how should I put this' in English, rather than asking for a translation.
- The reflexive se used in cómo se dice originates from the Latin sē, which is a distant relative of the English word 'self'.
Examples in context
- No sé cómo se dice en francés.I don't know how to say that in French.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not know how to say something 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 sentence shows a conversation where the speaker uses cómo se dice to express that it is worth a shot to try to say a word.Tatoeba #10034789 by Shishir, translation #10637511 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Cómo se dice XXX en neerlandés?How to say XXX in Dutch?This sentence is a template for asking how to say something in Dutch using cómo se dice.Tatoeba #10984683 by Adelpa, translation #388261 by sysko
- Disculpe, ¿podría decirme cómo se dice 'gracias' en español?Excuse me, could you please tell me how to say 'thank you' in Spanish?
- No estoy seguro de si lo estoy pronunciando correctamente. ¿Cuál es la forma correcta de decir 'hermoso' en español?I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing this correctly. What is the correct way to say 'beautiful' in Spanish?
- Necesito ayuda para traducir esta frase. ¿Podría ayudarme?I need help translating this phrase. Could you please assist me?
- Oye, ¿me puedes decir cómo se dice 'perro' en español?Hey, could you tell me how to say 'dog' in Spanish?
- Se me olvidó cómo se dice 'te quiero' en español. ¿Me lo puedes recordar?I forgot how to say 'I love you' in Spanish. Can you remind me?
- Me encantaría saber cómo se dice 'buenos días' en español. ¿Me puedes enseñar?I'd love to know how to say 'good morning' in Spanish. Can you teach me?
Example conversation
Sofía asks Javier for help with a Spanish word.
- Sofía¿Cómo se dice «apple» en español?How do you say 'apple' in Spanish?
- JavierSe dice «manzana».You say 'manzana'.
- SofíaGracias, Javier. ¿Cómo se dice «bread»?Thanks, Javier. How do you say 'bread'?
- JavierSe dice «pan».You say 'pan'.
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.
