How to Say "Last Name" in Spanish

apellido

/apeˈʝido/

The English phrase "last name" is apellido in Spanish.

apellido is used to refer to a person's surname or last name.

Which one should you use?

While apellido refers to the last name, the term nombre refers to the first name.

/apeˈʝido/

English speakers often mistakenly use último nombre as a literal translation for "last name", but the correct term is apellido.

In most Spanish-speaking cultures, a person typically has two last names: the father's first surname followed by the mother's first surname.

When a woman marries in some Spanish-speaking cultures, she does not traditionally change her apellido to her husband's name.
The word apellido shares a distant Latin root with the English word 'appeal', as both stem from the Latin appellare meaning to call upon.
Using only a person's apellido without a title like Señor or Señora can be perceived as overly blunt or rude in formal Spanish contexts.

No entendí tu apellido.
I didn't catch your last name.
This sentence is useful for expressing that you did not catch someone's apellido.
Tatoeba #1612592 by teskmon, translation #70513 by CK
¿Cuál es el apellido de él?
What's his last name?
This sentence is useful for asking about someone's apellido.
Tatoeba #10093233 by manufrutos, translation #10071287 by ddnktr
¿Me puede decir su apellido?
Can you tell me your last name?
This sentence is useful for asking someone to tell you their apellido.
Tatoeba #1758265 by Shishir, translation #9819379 by DJ_Saidez
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Lucía and Alejandro are filling out a registration form at a clinic.

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