deletrea tu apellido
/deletɾea tu apeʝido/from spelling rules
To say "spell your last name" in Spanish, use deletrea tu apellido.
This phrase is used as a request for someone to say the letters of their family name one by one.
What does it mean word for word?
The word deletrea comes from the verb deletrear, which literally means "to spell" (to say the letters).
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form uses the informal imperative 'deletrea', which is used with friends, family or people your own age.
How do you pronounce it?
/deletɾea tu apeʝido/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use nombre (first name) when they actually mean apellido (last name).
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you may be asked to spell both your paternal and maternal surnames, as people often carry two 'apellidos'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the verb deletrear is rarely used in casual conversation. Instead, people might say dime letra por letra, which means 'tell me letter by letter'.
- The word apellido is a deverbal noun, meaning it was created from the verb apellidar, which means 'to give a surname'.
Examples in context
- Deletrea tu apellido, por favor.Spell your last name, please.
- ¿Cómo se escribe? Deletrea tu apellido lentamente.How is it written? Spell your last name slowly.
- No lo entiendo, deletrea tu apellido para confirmar.I don't understand, spell your last name to confirm.
Example conversation
Sofía is registering Mateo for a gym membership.
- SofíaNecesito tu nombre completo, Mateo.I need your full name, Mateo.
- MateoMi nombre es Mateo García.My name is Mateo García.
- SofíaNo estoy segura. Deletrea tu apellido.I am not sure. Spell your last name.
- MateoClaro, es G-A-R-C-Í-A.Sure, it is G-A-R-C-Í-A.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
