Hallo, ich heiße
The German way to say "hi my name is" is Hallo, ich heiße.
This phrase is used to introduce yourself to another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The part ich heiße literally translates to "I am called".
Which one should you use?
While Hallo, ich heiße… is a common way to introduce yourself, Mein Name ist… serves as a more formal alternative. You may also use the form Ich bin…, which means "I am…".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ich heiße, the verb heißen is conjugated for the first-person singular ich by adding the ending -e.
Did you know?
- The word hallo may have originated as a specific shout used to hail a ferryman across a river or bank.
- While Hallo is universal, in Northern Germany you might hear Moin as a greeting at any time of the day or night.
- The verb heißen can also be used to define a word, such as when asking Was heißt das? to mean 'What does that mean?'
Examples in context
- Guten Tag! Mein Name ist Anna Müller.Hello! My name is Anna Müller.
- Hallo! Ich bin Tim. Schön, dich kennenzulernen!Hi! I am Tim. Nice to meet you!
- Hallo, ich heiße Lukas.Hi, my name is Lukas.
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah meet at a party.
- FelixHallo, ich heiße Felix.Hi, my name is Felix.
- HannahHallo Felix, ich heiße Hannah.Hi Felix, my name is Hannah.
- FelixSchön dich kennenzulernen, Hannah.Nice to meet you, Hannah.
- HannahGleichfalls!Likewise!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hallo, hallo, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
