¿cómo se llama?
/ˈkomo se ˈʝama/word by word
The English phrase "what is it called?" is translated into Spanish as ¿cómo se llama?
While English speakers use the word "what" to inquire about a name, Spanish speakers use cómo (how) to ask how something is named.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the alternative phrase ¿qué nombre tiene? to ask "what name does it have?" Additionally, if you are referring to multiple things, you must use the plural form se llaman instead of the singular se llama.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkomo se ˈʝama/
Did you know?
- The word llama in ¿cómo se llama? and the South American animal llama are completely unrelated. While they are spelled the same, the verb comes from the Latin word for 'flame' and the animal is a loanword from the indigenous Quechua language.
- In Spanish, the phrase ¿cómo se llama? can be used as a filler or a 'placeholder' expression when a speaker forgets a specific word, similar to saying 'what-do-you-call-it' in English.
- The word cómo in this phrase doesn't just ask 'how' but can also be used as a standalone exclamation ¡Cómo! when a speaker is too surprised to hear a name and wants the other person to repeat it.
Examples in context
- No recuerdo el nombre, ¿cómo se llama?I don't remember the name, what is it called?
- Esa parte del coche, ¿cómo se llama?That part of the car, what is it called?
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are looking at a strange fruit in a market.
- MaríaMira esta fruta, ¿cómo se llama?Look at this fruit, what is it called?
- AlejandroCreo que se llama pitaya.I think it is called pitaya.
- MaríaEs muy bonita, ¿cómo se llama la variedad?It is very pretty, what is the variety called?
- AlejandroNo estoy seguro, pero es exótica.I'm not sure, but it is exotic.
