Como vs Que

Question

Why is "Como te llamas?" said for "What's your name?", but "Como se dice?" is for "How do you spell....?"

Doesn't Como mean How and Que mean What?

Hi and welcome to the forum! - francobollo, Oct 1, 2012

Thanks! - Snowiris, Oct 1, 2012

Answer 1

Como means how and que means what (almost always). But common expressions such as How are you? can be translated using different words in different languages.

¿Cómo te llamas? literally means "How do you call yourself?", which makes no sense in English. So, we say What's your name? instead.

¿Cuál es tu nombre? is closer to "Which is your name?". Again, in English we don't express it that way. So, we say What's your name? instead.

Okay that makes sense. Thanks so much! - Snowiris, Oct 1, 2012