deletrear el nombre
/deletɾeaɾ el nombɾe/from spelling rules
To spell name in Spanish is deletrear el nombre.
The phrase is used when you want to say or write the letters of a person's name in the correct order. The verb deletrear is the infinitive meaning 'to spell' or 'to spell out'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are asking someone to spell their own name, it is more natural to use the possessive adjective su (your/his/her) instead of the definite article el (the), resulting in the phrase deletrear su nombre.
How do you pronounce it?
/deletɾeaɾ el nombɾe/
Did you know?
- The word nombre has a surprising double life. While it means 'name', it can also be a shortened, colloquial version of the exclamation ¡no, hombre!, which is used to express disbelief, much like saying 'No way, man!'
- If you want to ask someone to spell their name, using the verb deletrear can sound quite formal or clinical. In everyday life, it is much more common to simply ask ¿Cómo se escribe?, which translates to 'How is it written?'
- When spelling a name over the phone, Spanish speakers rarely use the letters alone. Instead, they use a descriptive phonetic system, such as A de avión or B de burro, to clarify sounds that might be easily confused.
Examples in context
- Hola Marta, ¿cómo estuvo tu fin de semana?Hey Marta, how was your weekend?
- ¿Podría deletrear su apellido, por favor?Could you spell your last name, please?
- ¿Cómo se escribe tu nombre? ¡Siempre se me olvida!How do you spell your name? I always forget!
- ¿Puede deletrear su nombre, por favor?Can you spell your name, please?
- ¿Puede deletrear el nombre, por favor?Can you spell the name, please?
- Necesito deletrear el nombre para el registro.I need to spell the name for the registration.
- Él va a deletrear el nombre lentamente.He is going to spell the name slowly.
Example conversation
Javier is helping María fill out a form.
- JavierMaría, no entiendo cómo se escribe tu apellido.María, I don't understand how your last name is written.
- MaríaNo hay problema, puedo deletrear el nombre ahora.No problem, I can spell the name now.
- JavierGracias, estoy listo para escribirlo.Thanks, I am ready to write it.
- MaríaEs M, A, R, Í, A.It is M, A, R, Í, A.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
