What is your name
A formal way to ask, used with older people, in professional settings, or to show respect. 'Usted' is the formal 'you'.
A more direct, literal translation meaning 'What is your name?'. It's correct and common, but '¿Cómo te llamas?' is more conversational.
The formal version of '¿Cuál es tu nombre?'. Use it in the same situations where you would use 'usted'.
Hi, what's your name? My name is Carlos.
Good morning. Excuse me, what is your name? (formal)
A: What's your name? B: My name is Ana. And you?
Nice to meet you. What is your name?
The phrase '¿Cómo te llamas?' uses the verb 'llamar' which means 'to call'. So you are literally asking 'How do you call yourself?'. This is the most natural and common way to ask for a name.
You will hear '¿Cómo te llamás?' (koh-moh teh shah-MAHS). This uses the 'vos' form instead of 'tú'. The 'll' is also commonly pronounced with a 'sh' sound.
It is very common to use the formal '¿Cómo se llama usted?' even in friendly, informal situations, especially in highland regions like Bogotá. It's a sign of general respect, not necessarily distance.
To ask a group of people their names informally, you would use '¿Cómo os llamáis?'. This 'vosotros' form is not used in Latin America, where '¿Cómo se llaman ustedes?' is used for all groups.
Saying '¿Qué es tu nombre?' — This is a direct word-for-word translation of 'What is your name?' but it sounds unnatural in Spanish. For questions about names, Spanish uses '¿Cómo?' (How?) or '¿Cuál?' (Which/What?). The correct phrases are '¿Cómo te llamas?' or '¿Cuál es tu nombre?'.
Using 'tú' and 'usted' incorrectly. — Using the informal '¿Cómo te llamas?' with someone you should show respect to (e.g., an elderly person, a police officer, a boss) can be seen as rude. When in doubt, it is always safer to use the formal '¿Cómo se llama usted?'.
Pronouncing 'llamas' with an 'L' sound. — The double 'll' in Spanish is not pronounced like an English 'l'. In most of Latin America, it sounds like the 'y' in 'yes' (YAH-mahs). In some regions, it can sound like the 'j' in 'jet' or the 'sh' in 'shoe'.
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