What do you call it vs How do you call it

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'What do you call it?' is used when asking for the name or term of something, while 'How do you call it?' is not commonly used in English. It is more common to use 'How is it called?' when asking about the name or term of something.

Last updated: March 07, 2025 • 200 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when asking for the name or term of something.

"What do you call it"

This phrase is used when you want to know the name or term of something that you are referring to.

Examples:

What do you call this type of flower?
What do you call this dish in your country?
What do you call that building over there?
What do you call this tool in English?
What do you call this color?

Show examples from the web [+]

Jan 11, 2023 ... Q: What do you call it when a prisoner takes his own mugshot? A: A cellfie. Check out these political jokes that are sure to leave every one ...

Alternatives:

What is this called?
What is the name of this?
What do you name this?
What is this term?
What is this referred to as?

This phrase is correct but not commonly used in English. It is more common to use 'How is it called?' when asking about the name or term of something.

"How do you call it"

This phrase can be understood, but it is less common in English. A more common alternative is 'How is it called?'

Show examples from the web [+]

Apr 3, 2009 ... It is not natural English to say "How do you call it?" to mean "What is the English word for that?", or "What is that called in English?" It is ...
Oct 24, 2023 ... NOT: How do you call it or How is it called How, in contrast to What as a conjuction is rather responsible for methods you do something ...
Mar 15, 2018 ... How do you call it in English when the foam loses its volume? · What are the words in Russian? · @JamesK 1) Опадать (to fall off) 2) Оседать (to ...
Dec 13, 2022 ... How do you call it when you always have an internal feeling of what is going to happen next in your life or in the life of someone else ...

Alternatives:

How is it called?
What is the name of it?
What do you name it?
What is it termed as?
What is it referred to as?

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