Italian Phrase
Che nome?
Meaning
A short, informal way to ask someone’s name, literally ‘What name?’ It’s used when you didn’t catch the name or want a quick clarification.
When to use
Use it in casual, familiar settings – with friends, peers, or people of the same age group. It sounds a bit abrupt in formal contexts, where you’d prefer “Come ti chiami?” or “Qual è il suo nome?”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chenome?
Che (interrogative adjective)
‘Che’ means ‘what’ and is used before a noun to ask about its identity; it does not change for gender or number.
nome (noun)
‘nome’ means ‘name’; it is a masculine singular noun.
Word order
In Italian, the interrogative adjective comes directly before the noun, followed by a question mark.
🗨In Conversation
Che nome?
What’s your name?
Mi chiamo Luca.
My name is Luca.
✕Common Mistakes
Che nome è?
Italian does not use ‘è’ after an interrogative adjective; the correct form is just ‘Che nome?’
Che nome?
When speaking formally, replace with “Qual è il suo nome?” to avoid sounding too abrupt.
tʃe ˈno.me
The ‘Che’ is pronounced /ke/, not /tʃe/. Mispronouncing it can make you sound non‑native.
↔Alternatives
Come ti chiami?
What’s your name? (informal)
Qual è il tuo nome?
What is your name? (informal)
Qual è il suo nome?
What is your name? (formal)
Cultural Tip
While “Che nome?” is perfectly understandable, Italians usually ask “Come ti chiami?” in everyday conversation. “Che nome?” can feel a little blunt, so reserve it for moments when you missed hearing the name or when speaking with peers who already know each other well. In the north, you’ll also hear “Che nome hai?” which adds the verb ‘have’ for extra clarity.