asking surname

Question

how can we ask someone's "surname" in both formal & informal way... how can we respond when we are asked our surname???

Answer 1

"¿Cuál es su apellido, (por favor)?" - formal = What is your surname, (please)?

You could answer; "Mi apellido es...Rodriguez"

"Dime tu appellido, por favor". informal - What is your surname, please?

You could respond "Mi apellido es Garcia"

o ¿Quieres decirme tu apellido, por favor? = Would you tell me your surname, please?

I am not 100% certain of the informal way. The Spanish is correct but the natives may have better ways to phrase it.

I have normally just asked people for their Christian names:

¿Como te llamas, por favor?

or to address someone older ¿Cómo se llama, por favor?

I hope this helps

Muchas gracias - aysehilal, Oct 9, 2010

de nada - FELIZ77, Oct 9, 2010

"Mi nombre de apellido" doesn't make it more formal, only weird ;) Just say "mi apellido es.. " or "me apellido .." - bill1111, Oct 9, 2010

Answer 2

in some books " como te apellidas?( informal) - como se apellida( formal)?" are used to ask surname... are they acceptable, too??

Interesting I must remember that lol I didn't realize ythat construction was used - FELIZ77, Oct 9, 2010

Answer 3

can we respond " mi apellido es ....... " is that acceptable ??

It is, but you can simply answer by saying your surname. - lazarus1907, Oct 9, 2010

thanks for your help... - aysehilal, Oct 9, 2010