"How did you call me?" vs "What did you call me?"

Question

"How did you call me?" vs "What did you call me?"

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and contexts. 'What did you call me?' is used when someone wants to know the name or term by which they were addressed. 'How did you call me?' is less common and could be interpreted as asking about the manner or tone in which someone was addressed.

Last Updated: March 27, 2024

This phrase could be used to inquire about the way or tone in which someone addressed you. It is less common than 'What did you call me?' and might lead to confusion.

Alternatives:

In what way did you address me?
What tone did you use when addressing me?
How did you refer to me?

This phrase is used when someone wants to know the specific name or term used to address them. It is a common way to ask for clarification about how someone referred to you.

Examples:

What did you call me just now?
I didn't catch what you called me.
Can you remind me what you called me yesterday?

Alternatives:

What name did you use for me?
What term did you refer to me by?
What did you say to address me?

Answer 1

How did you call me?

This phrase is correct but less common in English. It could be interpreted as asking about the manner or tone in which someone was addressed.

Answer 2

What did you call me?

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to inquire about the name or term by which someone was addressed.

"How did you call me?" vs "What did you call me?"

How did you call me?

What did you call me?

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