trying to learn mysql/php running xammp on mac)

Hello. I am very new to this so I had some questions if you guys would be so kind...

I'm trying to connect to the MySQL server that Apache is hosting through the command prompt, but my commands are not going through.

I am current at the "Terminals" application under applications/utilities and I am typing in to the prompt "mysql -h localhost -u root -p". The prompt returns the following "-bash: -mysql: command not found"

What am I doing wrong here? Thanks in advance.

The only good all-in-one Apache+PHP+MySQL app for Mac is MAMP. That's what I use for testing. Best part is a widget to turn the server on/off. No need to use Terminal at all.