how or what?

[Astaparata]

Which is the correct expression:
how do you call or what do you call?

 

[bhaisahab]

Which is the correct expression:
how do you call or what do you call?

It depends on context.

 

[Kamila M]

if you want to know the name of sth, you ask "what is it called? or what do we call it?
as for the how do we call ... - I don't know.

 

[Astaparata]

1. How do you call the smell
2. What do you call the smell

Is it wrong to use what instead of how?

 

[bhaisahab]

if you want to know the name of sth, you ask "what is it called? or what do we call it?
as for the how do we call ... - I don't know.

"How do we call the cows in", perhaps.

 

[Astaparata]

how do we call the distinctive smell
or

what do we call the distinctive smell

?

 

[emsr2d2]

how do we call the distinctive smell
or

what do we call the distinctive smell

?

How is not appropriate in these kinds of sentences.

What do you call that smell?
What is that smell called?
What do you call it when someone moves their head up and down?
What do you call a baby cow?
What do we call the machine that washes your clothes?

Etc

You would use "how" for:

How do you say this word in English?
How do you ask for the time in Spanish?
How do you pronounce this word?
How do you spell ........?