como se llama usted or como te llamas?

Question

Which one should I use to ask someone's name? What is the difference between the two'

Answer 1

The simplistic answer is that the former is more polite and the latter is more casual. The complete answer would take too long to type here. As a non-fluent foreigner, though, you will not be judged badly either way, so it isn't a crucial point. The main thing is that if you decide to use the usted or tú form for someone, you should use it consistently in that conversation, and not switch back and forth.

Answer 2

I am just wondering, could "¿Cual es su nombre'" used for asking one's name? I know what both forms mean, I just don't know what is the difference, or which is preferable'

Answer 3

Zoltán said:

I am just wondering, could "¿Cual es su nombre'" used for asking one's name? I know what both forms mean, I just don't know what is the difference, or which is preferable?

Yes, it could, but it would be "¿Cuál es su nombre'" It would be used more when asking someone's name to fill out a form, for example. But it could also be used in conversation.

Answer 4

James Santiago said:

Yes, it could, but it would be "¿Cuál es su nombre'" It would be used more when asking someone's name to fill out a form, for example. But it could also be used in conversation.

Thank you James for the information and correction. That just prove that I, a beginner, should not rely on pure memory, but should check spelling.

Answer 5

Does this sound right? Is the punctuation right?

Hola, me llamo Max. soy de United States. 'Como se llama usted? ? De donde es usted? Adios.

Answer 6

I would not dare to correct you, I don't know enough Spanish. I think you need to change United States to Estados Unidos, 'Como to ¿Cómo and 'De donde to ¿De dónde.

King said:

Does this sound right? Is the punctuation right?

Hola, me llamo Max. soy de United States. 'Como se llama usted? ? De donde es usted? Adios.

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Answer 7

King said:

Hola, me llamo Max. Soy de los Estados Unidos United States. ¿Cómo se llama usted? ¿De dónde es usted? Adiós.

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Answer 8

I'd like to add that even though I myself am pretty obsessed with proper spelling and all, it's been my experience that most native Spanish speakers are pretty casual about written accents, especially online. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over a missing tilde here and there, though it is certainly best to learn the proper spelling.

Answer 9

The former is of respect and the latter is casual

Answer 10

It's true that written accents are often omitted by many natives and fluent non-native speakers. That doesn't make it a good idea to do it here though. It's a Spanish and English LEARNING site after all. It's one thing to leave them out when you know where they should go, but if you're trying to learn the language, it's not a good idea.That's why they don't allow chat speak.

Keith Brown said:

I'd like to add that even though I myself am pretty obsessed with proper spelling and all, it's been my experience that most native Spanish speakers are pretty casual about written accents, especially online. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over a missing tilde here and there, though it is certainly best to learn the proper spelling.

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Answer 11

no offense, but you are wrong.

Keith Brown said:

I'd like to add that even though I myself am pretty obsessed with proper spelling and all, it's been my experience that most native Spanish speakers are pretty casual about written accents, especially online. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over a missing tilde here and there, though it is certainly best to learn the proper spelling.

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Answer 12

AndreaHan said:

The former is of respect and the latter is casual

So how would you say it'

Answer 13

King said:

AndreaHan said:

The former is of respect and the latter is casual

So how would you say it?

It depends on the situation, the speaker, the listener, the locale, etc. It's not a cut-and-dry question.

Answer 14

yes there is a very big diffrence. you use " Como te llamas" when asking what is your name. this rouphly means what do you call your self. "Como Se llama" this means how do you say youre name. If you can not prounounce ones name u say como se llama.

Answer 15

Emmanuel Guzman said:

yes there is a very big diffrence. you use " Como te llamas" when asking what is your name. this rouphly means what do you call your self. "Como Se llama" this means how do you say youre name. If you can not prounounce ones name u say como se llama.

That is completely wrong! "Cómo se llama" has nothing at all to do with pronunciation. Of course, if you want to hear a person pronounce his or her own name, you could ask this question and listen to the answer, but the question just means "What is your name'" or, in another context, "What is xxx called'"