How to Say ‘Do you say? / is it called? (casual question)’ in Japanese
いうの？
iu n
[ee-oo noh]
💬 Usage Tip: [の？] makes a casual question with a “curious/explanatory” tone. Politer: [言うんですか？]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Adding [の？] can sound friendly and interested—great for making conversation at clubs.
Phrase Breakdown
いう
iu
[ee-oo]
to say; to call; to be named
Here いう is used in the pattern なんていうの？ meaning “What do you call it?”
それって英語でなんていうの？
How do you say that in English?
の
n
[noh]
(explanatory) no; nominalizer
の can turn the verb into a noun-like phrase and add an explanatory/soft tone in questions: いうの？ = “(do you) call it?”
それ、なんていうの？
What’s that called?
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