hola, me llamo Gabby
The phrase "hi, my name is gabby" in Spanish is hola, me llamo Gabby.
This phrase is a greeting used to introduce yourself to another person. While English speakers often say "my name is", Spanish speakers commonly use the reflexive verb llamarse to state their name. To sound extra friendly, you can add encantado/a de conocerte (nice to meet you) after your introduction. You may also use the phrase Mucho gusto during an introduction, and after introducing yourself, you can ask ¿Y tú? to ask the other person their name.
What does it mean word for word?
The component me llamo literally means "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
In English, you typically use the verb "to be" to introduce yourself, but in Spanish, it is more common to use the reflexive verb llamarse.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb llamarse is reflexive, which is why the pronoun me is used before the conjugated verb llamo.
Did you know?
- Some linguists have compared the origin of hola to the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'really? by God!'
- When someone responds to an introduction with mucho gusto, a traditional and polite reply is el gusto es mío, meaning 'the pleasure is mine'.
- In professional Spanish settings, people often omit hola entirely and begin their introduction with the time of day, such as buenos días.
Examples in context
- Hola, me llamo Gabby. ¿Y tú?Hi, my name is Gabby. And you?
- Hola, me llamo Gabby y soy nueva aquí.Hi, my name is Gabby and I am new here.
- Hola, me llamo Gabby, mucho gusto.Hi, my name is Gabby, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a party.
- JavierHola, me llamo Gabby. ¿Cuál es tu nombre?Hi, my name is Gabby. What is your name?
- ElenaHola, Gabby. Yo soy Elena.Hi, Gabby. I am Elena.
- JavierEs un placer conocerte, Elena.It is a pleasure to meet you, Elena.
- ElenaIgualmente, Gabby.Likewise, Gabby.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
