Few English questions are as quietly useful as "What is it called?" You hear it in airports, classrooms, text messages, and kitchen conversations. It is the phrase people reach for when they can point at something, describe it, or even picture it in their head — but its name refuses to come to them. In four simple words, it says: I know what this is, I just don't know what people call it.
Learners often look up the what is it called meaning because the phrase feels slightly different from the more familiar "What is it?" And they are right to notice the difference. "What is it?" asks for an explanation or identification of the thing itself. "What is it called?" asks specifically for the name — the label the world has agreed on. If you hold up a strange kitchen tool and ask "What is it?", someone might explain its purpose. If you ask "What is it called?", they will tell you it's a zester.
This guide breaks the phrase down completely: what it means, how the grammar works, when native speakers actually say it, the alternatives that sound more natural in different situations, and the mistakes that give learners away. By the end, you will not only understand this phrase — you will use it like someone who grew up hearing it.
What Does "What Is It Called?" Mean?
At its core, "What is it called?" is a question asking for the name or term of something. You use it when you encounter an object, concept, feeling, or situation that you can recognize but cannot name. The question assumes the thing has a name — you just don't know it yet.
Here are a few everyday moments where the phrase does its job perfectly:
- You see a bright purple fruit at a market: "What is it called?"
- A friend shows you a new dance move: "What is it called?"
- You're reading about a strange fear of long words: "What is it called?" (Answer: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia — which is almost a joke about itself.)
- You taste an unfamiliar spice in your food: "What is it called?"
Notice the pattern. In each case, the speaker understands the what well enough — they can see it, feel it, or describe it. What they lack is the label. That is exactly the gap this phrase is built to close.
The Grammar Behind the Phrase
"What is it called?" looks simple, but its structure trips up many learners. Let's take it apart so you never get it wrong.
Why We Say "Called" (The Passive Voice)
The sentence uses the passive voice: subject + "to be" + past participle. "It is called a zester" literally means "people call it a zester." Nobody is doing the calling in the sentence — the focus is entirely on the name itself.
The full question expanded is: "What is it called [by people]?" The passive construction is what makes the question universal. You're not asking what you call it or what your friend calls it — you're asking for the generally accepted name.
"It's Called" vs "It Called" — A Common Mix-Up
This is the mistake that search engines see constantly. "It's called" (it is called) means naming something. "It called" means something made a phone call or cried out in the past.
- ✅ "This bread? It's called sourdough." (Naming it.)
- ❌ "This bread? It called sourdough." (Did the bread phone someone?)
- ✅ "The baby cried and it called for its mother." (Past action — rare and unrelated.)
If you remember one rule, make it this: when you're naming something, you need "is" (or its contraction "it's") before "called."
Why Learners Mix It Up
Many languages name things with an active structure, so learners translate word-for-word and drop the "is." In speech, "What is it called?" can sound like "Whatsit called?" or even "What's it called?", which makes the grammar harder to hear. And some learners confuse it with "What do you call it?", a perfectly correct alternative with a different structure. The fix is simple: whenever you're asking for a name, keep the "is" in there.
When and How Native Speakers Use It
"What is it called?" is neutral — not rude, not formal, just useful. But native speakers adjust their wording depending on where they are and who they're talking to. The context changes the flavor of the question.
In Text Messages
In texts, people rarely type the full phrase. You'll see shortcuts and casual versions that mean the same thing.
Example chat:
Maya: [sends photo of a weird cloud] look at this sky rn 😳
Leo: woah that's a lenticular cloud
Maya: lol what is it called again? I always forget
Leo: lenticular! they look like UFOs
Notice Maya softens the question with "again" and "I always forget" — a classic trick that makes asking for a name feel friendly instead of clueless.
While Traveling
Travel is where this phrase earns its keep. You're surrounded by things you have never seen before, and pointing plus this question solves half your problems.
At a market in Bangkok:
You: Excuse me — what is this fruit called?
Vendor: Mangosteen. Very sweet. Try one!
You: Mangosteen. And this one?
Vendor: That's rambutan.
Small note: in person, people often point and say "What's this called?" instead of "it" — the grammar shifts to match the gesture, and that's completely natural.
While Shopping
In shops, the phrase pairs naturally with "Do you have" or "I'm looking for," turning a vocabulary gap into a shopping strategy.
Example:
Customer: Hi, what is it called — the thing you put under a rug so it doesn't slide?
Shop assistant: A rug pad. They're in aisle four.
Describing the object first ("the thing you put under a rug…") and then asking for the name is a move worth copying. It shows you're not guessing blindly, which usually gets you a faster, friendlier answer.
In the Classroom
Teachers hear this phrase constantly, and it's one of the best questions a student can ask — it shows curiosity instead of just confusion.
Example:
Student: Teacher, what is it called when a word sounds like what it describes, like "buzz" or "hiss"?
Teacher: That's called onomatopoeia. Great question — can anyone think of another example?
In academic settings, students often add the description before the question, exactly as above. It turns a simple vocabulary question into a thinking question, and teachers love that.
Other Ways to Say It: Casual and Polite Alternatives
"What is it called?" is never wrong, but variety makes you sound more natural — and some situations call for a softer touch.
Casual Alternatives
- "What's this called?" — the everyday default when pointing at something.
- "What do you call this?" — slightly more personal; asks for the listener's word, which is handy for slang or regional terms.
- "How do you say this?" — common among language learners; asks for pronunciation too.
- "What's the word for…?" — perfect when you can describe something but the term is on the tip of your tongue. ("What's the word for being afraid of Friday the 13th?" — paraskevidekatriaphobia, by the way.)
Polite and Formal Alternatives
- "Could you tell me what this is called?" — adds courtesy for strangers or customer service.
- "What is the term for…?" — sounds precise; great for work or academic writing.
- "What is the technical name for this?" — signals you want the expert term, not the everyday one.
- "What would you call this?" — gentle and open-ended; invites opinion rather than a single "correct" answer.
A useful rule of thumb: with friends, shorten it ("What's this called?"). With strangers, lengthen it ("Could you tell me what this is called?"). The meaning stays identical — only the wrapping changes.
Common Mistakes English Learners Make
1. Dropping the "is." Saying "What it called?" or "What called this?" is the number one error. The "is" is not optional — it's the engine of the question. Drill the full form until "What is it called?" comes out automatically.
2. Mixing up "it" and "this/that." "What is it called?" works when the thing was already mentioned. When you're pointing at something in front of you, "What is this called?" (near) or "What is that called?" (far) sounds more natural. Using "it" while pointing isn't wrong, but "this" matches the gesture.
3. Saying "What is it called as?" Some learners add "as" by translating from their first language ("What is it called as?"). English doesn't need it. The name follows directly: "What is it called?" — full stop.
4. Using it when you mean "What does it mean?" These are different questions. "What is it called?" asks for the name. "What does it mean?" asks for the definition. If someone says "That's a filibuster," and you ask "What is it called?", they'll just repeat "a filibuster" — what you actually wanted was "What does that mean?"
5. Overusing it in formal writing. In essays and reports, "What is it called?" reads as conversational. Prefer "What is the term for…?" or simply state the term. Save the casual phrasing for speech, messages, and informal writing.
Related Phrases Worth Knowing
Once "What is it called?" feels natural, these cousins will expand what you can ask:
- "What do you mean by…?" — asks someone to explain what they intended, not to name a thing.
- "What's that supposed to mean?" — can sound confrontational; it asks for the hidden implication behind someone's words.
- "What is it known as?" — a slightly formal sibling of "What is it called?"; common in writing about places and people.
- "What's it short for?" — asks for the full form of an abbreviation or nickname. ("Liz — what's it short for?" "Elizabeth.")
- "What's the difference between…?" — the natural follow-up once you learn two similar names and need to tell them apart.
FAQs
What is "what is it called" in simple words?
It's a question you ask when you want to know the name of something. You can see or describe the thing, but you don't know its label. For example, pointing at a kitchen tool and asking "What is it called?" means "Tell me the name of this object."
Is "What is it called?" grammatically correct?
Yes, completely. It uses the passive voice: "What" (the name you're asking for) + "is" + "it" + "called" (past participle). The contracted spoken form "What's it called?" is equally correct and far more common in conversation.
What's the difference between "What is it?" and "What is it called?"
"What is it?" asks for identification or explanation — what the thing is. "What is it called?" asks specifically for its name. If you point at an animal and ask "What is it?", someone might say "It's a mammal that eats bamboo." If you ask "What is it called?", they'll say "A red panda."
Can I say "What do you call it?" instead?
Absolutely. "What do you call it?" and "What do you call this?" are natural alternatives. The tiny nuance: "What is it called?" asks for the general, accepted name, while "What do you call it?" asks for the other person's personal word for it — useful when regional names or slang differ.
Is it rude to keep asking "What is it called?"
Not at all — curiosity is welcome in every culture. If you're worried about sounding repetitive, soften it with phrases like "Remind me, what's this called?" or "I always forget — what do you call this?" Adding a small apology or a smile turns a repeated question into a charming one.
Conclusion
"What is it called?" might be the hardest-working little question in English. It bridges the gap between recognizing something and naming it, and it does so in every setting that matters — travel, shopping, classrooms, group chats, and workplaces. Its grammar is simple once you see the passive structure underneath, and its alternatives let you tune the tone from casual to formal without changing the meaning.
The real lesson is bigger than one phrase. Every time you ask what something is called, you're doing what good language learners do: turning a moment of not-knowing into a moment of learning. So the next time a name escapes you — at a market, in a meeting, or mid-text — don't freeze and don't guess. Point, smile, and ask. That's what the phrase is for.
