Spelling Your Name Aloud

Hook

In English-speaking countries people ask you to spell your name all the time: on the phone, at a hotel, at the doctor’s, at a bank. It is one of the very first real conversations you will have in English, so let’s practise it.

Notice

  • A: What’s your name? — B: My name is Ana.
  • A: How do you spell that? — B: A-N-A.
  • A: And your surname? — B: García. That’s G-A-R-C-I-A.
  • My name is Anna. That’s A, double N, A.

What does “double N” mean in the last example?

Rule

To spell a word, say each letter separately, with a small pause between letters. Useful phrases:

  • How do you spell that? (the question)
  • It’s spelled… / That’s… (the answer)
  • double + letter for two letters the same: Anna = A, double N, A.
  • first name = your own name (Ana); surname / last name / family name = your family’s name (García).
  • capital letter = big letter (A); small letter = a.

If you didn’t hear a letter, ask: Sorry, can you repeat that, please? or Is that B for “book”?

Watch Out

  • ✗ How you spell that? → ✓ How do you spell that? (don’t forget “do”)
  • ✗ My name is Ana. It spell A-N-A. → ✓ It’s spelled A-N-A.
  • ✗ A, N, N, A (very fast) → ✓ A, double N, A (use “double” for two letters the same)

Practice

  1. Complete: “How do you ___ that?”
  2. Complete: “My name is Sam. That’s S – A – ___.”
  3. Which phrase introduces spelling? a) I am from… b) It’s spelled… c) I like…
  4. How do you say the spelling of Emma?
  5. How do you say the spelling of Scott?
  6. What is another word for surname?
  7. You didn’t hear a letter. What can you say?
  8. Put the words in order: spell / you / how / do / that?
Show the answers
  1. spell
  2. M
  3. b) It’s spelled…
  4. E, double M, A
  5. S, C, O, double T
  6. last name / family name
  7. Sorry, can you repeat that, please?
  8. How do you spell that?

Your Turn

Spell your first name and your surname out loud, twice: once slowly, once at normal speed. Then write a short dialogue: someone asks your name and how to spell it, and you answer.

Connect

Our Spelling Quiz says a word and you type it letter by letter: the same skill in reverse.

Try our Spelling Quiz →

Look up any word in our dictionary to hear it spoken and see how it is spelled.

Open the English Dictionary →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Interaction: I can ask and answer simple questions about personal details. Writing: I can fill in forms with personal details such as my name.

Azizul Hakim
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