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I have been studying spanish and I have a question regarding a particular phrase.

I have seen and read 2 phrases for the question " What is your name"

1) usted nombre

2) Como se llama usted - this is the phrase i have learned from studying.

What is the difference between the 2. Is the first phrase the casual way of asking someone their name and the 2nd is a more formal way?

Thanks,
1life2live

According to my novia, they both have the same meaning but the first is incorrect, like saying "your name" instead of actually asking. She sez it should be, "cual es tu nombre" in the first case.

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Or probably more correctly: "Qual es su nombre?" Which uses the more formal "usted" rather than the familiar "tu". But then, if you are addressing a chica in the DR who's knickers you wish to invade, go ahead and use the "tu".

"Como se/te llama?" actually means: "How are you called?" but is another correct way to ask someone's name.

Either question works. Both are correct, understood and accepted.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

use the most basic/most used phrase... como te llamas? pronounced "komoh-teh-yamas?"

literally, you are asking "how [what] do you call yourself?"

Or "como su nombre, mi amor?"

dapanz1

The first way is just being lazy but works.

I simply always have said either que or como te llamas.


Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

The tu form is correct.Usted is reserved for someone older, a formal situation to convey respect, like when you meet your favoritas parents.

The difference is that #1 doesn't make sense, while # 2 is ok. Personally I'd say "¿como usted se llama? or ¿cual es su nombre? Remember, even if she's a puta, you don't know her, so the polite way is the correct one.

About # 1, that would be like saying "you name", ¿su nombre? (your name?) would be a better option, but don't learn to talk like that. Learn the right way, just be aware that somebody might tell you "su nombre, por favor" (your name, please).

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Thanks for everyones response.

1life2live

"usted" is implied when only speaking to one person. If others are around, usted is useful so that a mixed crowed knows who you're talking to..


Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

Wrong for C.R.

C.R. uses the usted form almost universally.

That being said, working girls in the del Rey probably won't mind if you use the less-formal tu form.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Not necessarily, they are interchangeable in most situations. Usted is always used with parents, elderly, etc. But with siblings, K*ds, peers, they are equally used.

With girls who are all younger than all of us, I would not use Usted. It's too formal IMO.

Well, you would know better than I, Orange... but every language instructor I've met in C.R. (local, native speaker) says that ticos use the usted form almost without exception; and that includes younger folks, pets, the parking attendant on the street. Ticos pride themselves on having a polite culture.

When in doubt: Use usted. I think once you've consumated the act, etc. the tu form might be okay.

I have also observed ticos talking with each other, and most use the usted form.

That being said of course, there are a number of working girls who are not ticas and who are amused by the usted form.

Costa Rica seems to be the only country where the tu form is used so sparingly.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Very correct. Ciengo's language instructors, and probably mine to if I were to go find him, will always say to use proper usted form.Why?Because that is technically correct.However, except in a speech, why would you want to be so correct?Imagine if you always used perfect, complete and proper English.Most people would be relatively uncomfortable with you.No place in the English speaking world do people use perfect english in casual conversation.What seems perfect to them is actually filled with regional terms and phrases. I never realized this myself till I had to get up and actually teach english to a crowded room of business exec's in Taipei, Taiwan.

So in short, what is technically correct is not socially correct.And we are not trying to sell the chicas on our academic wisdom.Just trying to start a friendly relationship that will result in great sex for a reasonable price.Stick to "tu".

I have had it explained to me that in Costa Rica, "Usted" is the common form and is used almost universally. Note that I say 'common' rather than 'proper.' Usted is used between parent and Ch*ld, siblings, friends, and most other social interactions. The familiar or "Tu" form is used mostly among and between "upper class" Ticos in social settings.

When I first heard this, I was surprised because it varies from the usage I'd been taught and observed. However, when I questioned many Ticos about this usage, they virtually all agreed.

BTW, 'upper class' Tico has a range of definitions, but usually applies to a business or land owner or a person with status. I've not gotten my arms around that yet.

Suffice to say that there is no offense taken if a gringo uses an improper form. Ticos, like folks everywhere, will excuse a linguistic faux pas and are appreciative that a foreigner attempts to learn their language and culture.


Ciaociao