cómo se dice
/komo se diθe/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "how to say" is expressed as cómo se dice.
This phrase is used to ask for the translation of a word or expression into another language. To ask for a specific translation, use the pattern ¿Cómo se dice [word] en [language]? where you place the word you want to translate after the phrase and the target language after the preposition en.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "how it is said" using the impersonal se.
How does it change in a sentence?
Instead of using a direct translation of the infinitive "to say" (decir), the phrase uses the impersonal se to express the general concept of how something is said by people in general.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the infinitive construction cómo decir when you want to ask "how to say" something. The correct impersonal form is cómo se dice.
Did you know?
- If a Spanish speaker is confused by a word's meaning rather than its translation, they will switch from cómo se dice to ¿qué quiere decir?, which literally asks 'what does it want to say'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, if you are struggling to find a word, you might hear the filler phrase ¿cómo se dice? used as a verbal pause, similar to 'um' or 'how do you say' in English.
- The se in cómo se dice originally came from the Latin word illī, which meant 'to him' or 'to her'.
Examples in context
- No sé cómo se dice en francés.I don't know how to say that in French.This sentence shows how to express that you do not know a translation in French.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 dialogue illustrates using the phrase when one does not know how 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 example demonstrates the standard pattern for asking how to say a word in Dutch.Tatoeba #10984683 by Adelpa, translation #388261 by sysko
- graciasThank you
- holaHello
- adiósGoodbye
- te amoI love you
- muchas graciasThank you very much
- buenos díasGood morning
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are studying Spanish together in a café.
- Javier¿Cómo se dice «apple» en español?How do you say 'apple' in Spanish?
- LucíaSe dice «manzana».You say 'manzana'.
- JavierGracias, Lucía.Thanks, Lucía.
- LucíaDe nada, Javier.You're welcome, Javier.
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.
