Se llama
/se ʝama/from spelling rules
The English phrase "her name is" is translated into Spanish as Se llama.
Se llama is a phrase used to introduce a female person by stating her name.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, Se llama means "she calls herself".
Which one should you use?
While Se llama can mean "his name is" or "her name is", the reflexive pronoun se refers to the subject, not the gender of the speaker.
How do you pronounce it?
/se ʝama/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Although Su nombre es is grammatically correct for "her name is", using it in casual conversation can sound overly formal and less natural than using Se llama.
Did you know?
- The word llama in the phrase Se llama is a homonym for the South American animal of the same name. While they sound identical, the name of the animal is actually a loanword from the Quechua language.
- In some contexts, using Se llama to refer to a high-ranking official or an elderly person without adding a title like Doña or Señora can be perceived as surprisingly blunt.
- Depending on the region, Se llama can be used to introduce not just people, but also pets, businesses, and shops.
Examples in context
- Ella se llama Lucifera.Her name is Lucifera.This sentence is useful for showing how to introduce a person by name using Se llama.Tatoeba #500189 by Shishir, translation #309791 by Barbiche0
- Pregúntale cómo se llama.Ask her what her name is.This sentence is useful for asking a question about what someone's name is using Se llama.Tatoeba #2209725 by Shishir, translation #1845552 by CK
- No puedo recordar cómo se llama.I can't remember what her name is.This sentence is useful for expressing the inability to remember a name using Se llama.Tatoeba #6874914 by arh, translation #6874309 by CK
- Su nombre es María Rodríguez.Her name is María Rodríguez.
- La señorita se llama Sofía García.Her name is Sofía García.
- Permítame presentarle, su nombre es Ana López.Allow me to introduce you, her name is Ana López.
- Ella se llama Carmen.Her name is Carmen.
- Se llama Marta.Her name is Marta.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía introduces her sister to Javier at a cafe.
- LucíaJavier, ella es mi hermana.Javier, this is my sister.
- Javier¿Cómo se llama?What is her name?
- LucíaSe llama Elena.Her name is Elena.
- JavierMucho gusto, Elena.Nice to meet you, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llama, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
