Don’t make this very common mistake: How do you call that in English?

If you can’t think of a word, ask:

What do you call that in English? or What is that called in English?

These questions ask the listener to provide you with a specific noun or noun construction. For example:

I’m looking for… Oh, what do you call that in English – you know, a book that gives the meanings of words?
A dictionary?
Yes, a dictionary. Have you got one I could borrow?

If you can’t think of how to phrase a thought, ask:

How do you say that in English?

This question asks the listener to provide you with a phrase, a sentence or a paraphrase that will help you express what you want to say. For example:

We want to… How do you say that in English?
Outperform the market?
Exactly. Outperform the market.

Don’t make the mistake that many non-native speakers of English make by asking How do you call that in English?

© 2014 Baxter Publishing, Hilversum, The Netherlands