What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿cómo se llama? literally translates to "how does he call himself?"
Which one should you use?
While '¿cómo se llama?' can mean 'what is his name?', adding 'usted' clarifies that you are asking 'what is your name?' in a formal way.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In most Spanish-speaking countries, ¿Cómo se llama él? is used to mean "what is his name?" The form ¿Cómo se llama? is common in Spain and parts of Latin America. In parts of Mexico and Central America, you may also hear ¿Cómo le dicen?, which means "what do they call him?"
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkomo se ˈʝama/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate 'what is his name?' literally as ¿cuál es su nombre?, which is grammatically correct but sounds much more formal and less natural than ¿cómo se llama? in everyday conversation.
Did you know?
- The word llama in the phrase shares a historical path with the Latin word for 'flame', even though it is used here to refer to calling oneself.
- In much of Mexico and Central America, people often ask ¿cómo le dicen? to find out a person's nickname or how they are known by others.
- While ¿cuál es su nombre? is the literal translation of 'what is his name?', using it in a casual setting can make the speaker sound like a police officer or a government official.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking at a photo of a new colleague.
- ElenaMira al chico nuevo. ¿Cómo se llama?Look at the new guy. What is his name?
- JavierSe llama Marcos.His name is Marcos.
- ElenaEs un nombre muy bonito.It is a very beautiful name.
- JavierSí, es un buen nombre.Yes, it is a good name.
