How to Ask "How do you say this in English?"

Introduction

When learning English, we often need to ask how to say something in English. Here are some useful phrases to help you ask these questions naturally.

Three Essential Phrases

Here are the main ways to ask how to say something in English:

1. “How do you say ~ in English?”

This is the most common and formal way. Examples:

• “How do you say ‘umbrella’ in English?”
• “How do you say ‘thank you for your hard work’ in English?“

2. “What’s ~ in English?”

This is more casual and friendly. Examples:

• “What’s ‘sushi’ in English?”
• “What’s ‘maple leaf’ in English?“

3. “What do you call ~ in English?”

This is perfect when pointing to something. Examples:

• “What do you call this tool in English?”
• “What do you call these vegetables in English?”

Using These Phrases in Different Situations

At School

Use polite forms when asking teachers:

• “Excuse me, how do you say ‘homework’ in English?”
• “Could you tell me how to say ‘blackboard’ in English?”

With Friends

Use casual forms:

• “Hey, what’s ‘kimono’ in English?”
• “Do you know how to say ‘cute’ in English?”

At Work

Use more formal expressions:

• “Could you please tell me how to say ‘I’m leaving for the day’ in English?”
• “What would be the proper way to say ‘thank you for your continued support’ in English?”

Important Grammar Note

The basic structure “How do you say…?” consists of:

1. How (asking about method)
2. do (auxiliary verb)
3. you (subject)
4. say (main verb)
5. The word you want to know
6. in English (language specification)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong: “How say this in English?”
✅ Correct: “How do you say this in English?”

❌ Wrong: “How to say this in English?”
✅ Correct: “How do I say this in English?”

Helpful Follow-up Phrases

When you need clarification:

• “Could you repeat that?”
• “How do you spell that?”
• “Could you write that down?”

To confirm understanding:

• “Is that the correct way to say it?”
• “Did I pronounce that correctly?”
• “Is there another way to say it?”

Tips for Practice

1. Don’t hesitate to ask questions when you’re unsure
2. Keep notes of new expressions on your phone
3. Practice the pronunciation when learning new words
4. Note down the context where each phrase is commonly used

Learning Resources

For real conversation examples, check out Secret2English’s YouTube channel and website.

Summary

Remember these key phrases:

1. “How do you say ~ in English?”
2. “What’s ~ in English?”
3. “What do you call this in English?”

Don’t be shy about asking questions - it’s one of the best ways to expand your vocabulary!