A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "How do you say" in Spanish
Ask how to say something in Spanish with this essential phrase. Perfect for language learners.
¿Cómo se dice?
KOH-moh seh DEE-sehneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you encounter a word or phrase in English that you don't know how to express in Spanish. For example, if you see a sign with an unfamiliar word, or if you're trying to describe something and can't find the right Spanish word.
Alternatives
- ¿Cómo dices?Use this when speaking to one person you know well (informal 'tú').
- ¿Cómo dice?Use this when speaking to one person formally (usted) or to multiple people in some regions.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'dice' with 'decir'
Remember 'dice' is the conjugated verb form, not the infinitive 'decir' (to say).
Forgetting the question marks
Spanish questions require an inverted question mark at the beginning.
Frequently asked
how to say 'how do you say' in spanish informal
For informal situations with someone you'd address as 'tú', use '¿Cómo dices?'. This is for friends or people your age.
how to say 'how do you say' in spanish formal
When addressing someone formally with 'usted', use '¿Cómo dice?'. This is for elders, authority figures, or strangers you want to show respect to.
what's the difference between como se dice and como dices
'¿Cómo se dice?' is the most general way to ask, literally 'How does one say?'. '¿Cómo dices?' is specifically for when you're talking to one person you know well.
What does "como" se dice in Spanish mean?
Como se dice literally translates to "how does it say" and is the most common way to ask how to say something in Spanish.
How do you ask how to say a word in Spanish?
You can ask "¿Cómo se dice [word] en español?" to inquire about the Spanish translation of a specific word.
How do you ask how to say something in Spanish?
The most common phrase is "¿Cómo se dice?" which means "How do you say?" You can add the word or phrase you want to translate after it.
