Spanish Phrase
¿A nombre de quién está la reserva?
Meaning
This phrase is used to inquire about the name under which a reservation has been made. It's a polite and direct way to ask for the necessary information to locate a booking, whether for a hotel, restaurant, or other service. It literally translates to "To the name of whom is the reservation?".
When to use
You'll use this phrase when checking into a hotel, arriving at a restaurant, picking up tickets, or any situation where you need to confirm a booking. It's a standard question asked by staff to identify your reservation and ensure you are the correct party.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿A nombre dequiénestála reserva?
A nombre de
This is a fixed expression meaning 'in the name of' or 'under the name of'. It's crucial for indicating ownership or attribution of a reservation or account.
Quién
This is the interrogative pronoun 'who' or 'whom'. It always carries an accent mark when used in a direct or indirect question to distinguish it from the relative pronoun 'quien'.
Estar (está)
The verb 'estar' (to be) is used here because it refers to a state or condition (the reservation being under a certain name) rather than an inherent characteristic. 'Está' is the third-person singular form, agreeing with 'la reserva'.
La reserva
'La reserva' means 'the reservation'. 'Reserva' is a feminine noun, hence it uses the feminine definite article 'la'.
🗨In Conversation
Buenas noches, tengo una reserva.
Good evening, I have a reservation.
¿A nombre de quién está la reserva?
In whose name is the reservation?
✕Common Mistakes
¿Por nombre de quién es la reserva?
The verb 'estar' is used for temporary states and locations, including the state of a reservation being 'under' a name. 'Ser' is for permanent characteristics, which doesn't apply here.
¿Quién tiene la reserva?
While grammatically correct, this is less formal and less common than 'a nombre de quién está' when asking about a reservation in a service context. It can sound a bit abrupt.
↔Alternatives
¿Bajo qué nombre está la reserva?
Under what name is the reservation?
¿Con qué nombre hicieron la reserva?
With what name was the reservation made?
¿Me podría decir el nombre de la reserva?
Could you tell me the name of the reservation?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, politeness and formality are highly valued in service interactions. Using the full phrase '¿A nombre de quién está la reserva?' is standard and respectful. Avoid overly casual or abrupt questions, especially with service staff, as it might be perceived as impolite.