A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "How do you spell it" in Italian
Ask how to spell a word in Italian with this essential phrase. Perfect for understanding names or directions.
Come si scrive?
KOH-meh see SKREE-vehneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you hear a word, name, or address that you need to write down but aren't sure of the spelling. It's common in shops, when taking down a phone number, or when someone tells you their surname.
Alternatives
- Come lo scrivi?Slightly more casual, implying 'how do you write *it*?'
- Può dettarlo?Use when you want them to spell it out letter by letter.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'scrive' with 'scrivo'
'Scrive' is third-person singular ('he/she/it writes'), while 'scrivo' is first-person ('I write').
Ignoring the 'si'
The 'si' makes it impersonal, meaning 'how does one write it?' rather than 'how do you write it?' directly.
A small cultural note
Italians often spell out words clearly when asked, sometimes even saying the letters with their standard Italian names.
Frequently asked
How do I ask someone to spell their name?
You can use 'Come si scrive?' after they've said their name. Alternatively, you could ask more directly 'Come si scrive il suo cognome?' (How is your surname spelled?).
What if I need them to spell it out letter by letter?
You can say 'Può dettarlo?' which means 'Can you dictate it?'. This prompts them to say each letter individually.
Is 'Come si scrive?' formal or informal?
It's a neutral phrase that works in most situations. You don't need to use the formal 'Lei' form when asking this question.
