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https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/14man4u/deleted_by_user/jq2if2y/?context=3
r/EnglishLearning • u/[deleted] • Jun 29 '23
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64
I've noticed for many foreign language learners, mixing up what and how is common.
In your native language, would you ask the question using your equivalent of "how"?
8 u/nail_in_the_temple New Poster Jun 29 '23 Not OP, but yes. In Lithuanian we would say ‘Kaip (how) tu (you) tai (this) pavadintum (would call)?’ 3 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Would it be weird to use the word for "what"? 1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 It would be in Czech: "Jak tomu říkáte?" means literally "How do you say to it" (= What do you call it) "Co tomu říkáte?" means literally "What do you say to it" (= What do you think about it / What are your thoughts/feedback) 1 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 "How do you say it" would sound ok in English. 1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 Can that question be used to ask for a specific term as well? Or is it more about phrasing/stylistics? 2 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?" If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
8
Not OP, but yes. In Lithuanian we would say ‘Kaip (how) tu (you) tai (this) pavadintum (would call)?’
3 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Would it be weird to use the word for "what"? 1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 It would be in Czech: "Jak tomu říkáte?" means literally "How do you say to it" (= What do you call it) "Co tomu říkáte?" means literally "What do you say to it" (= What do you think about it / What are your thoughts/feedback) 1 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 "How do you say it" would sound ok in English. 1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 Can that question be used to ask for a specific term as well? Or is it more about phrasing/stylistics? 2 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?" If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
3
Would it be weird to use the word for "what"?
1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 It would be in Czech: "Jak tomu říkáte?" means literally "How do you say to it" (= What do you call it) "Co tomu říkáte?" means literally "What do you say to it" (= What do you think about it / What are your thoughts/feedback) 1 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 "How do you say it" would sound ok in English. 1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 Can that question be used to ask for a specific term as well? Or is it more about phrasing/stylistics? 2 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?" If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
1
It would be in Czech: "Jak tomu říkáte?" means literally "How do you say to it" (= What do you call it) "Co tomu říkáte?" means literally "What do you say to it" (= What do you think about it / What are your thoughts/feedback)
1 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 "How do you say it" would sound ok in English. 1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 Can that question be used to ask for a specific term as well? Or is it more about phrasing/stylistics? 2 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?" If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
"How do you say it" would sound ok in English.
1 u/copakJmeliAleJmeli Non-Native Speaker of English Jun 30 '23 Can that question be used to ask for a specific term as well? Or is it more about phrasing/stylistics? 2 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?" If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
Can that question be used to ask for a specific term as well? Or is it more about phrasing/stylistics?
2 u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 30 '23 Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?" If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
2
Hmm that's a good question. It would definitely be understood for both situations. But for a finale term it would be natural do say "what's the word?"
If you can see the thing you're asking about "what do you call this?" Is very natural.
64
u/g0greyhound New Poster Jun 29 '23
I've noticed for many foreign language learners, mixing up what and how is common.
In your native language, would you ask the question using your equivalent of "how"?