oi, meu nome é
/ˈoj mew ˈnõ.mi ˈɛ/word by word
The English phrase "hi, my name is" is translated into Portuguese as oi, meu nome é.
This phrase is used to introduce oneself to another person. A very common and natural alternative to meu nome é is oi, eu sou [name].
Which one should you use?
While oi, meu nome é is a complete introduction, you can omit the oi and simply say meu nome é to be more direct.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase olá, meu nome é is a more formal alternative to oi, meu nome é.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazilian Portuguese, it is common to use Eu before stating your name, such as in the phrase Oi, eu sou o/a [your name]. In European Portuguese, the article o/a before the name is often omitted, such as in the phrase Olá, sou [your name].
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoj mew ˈnõ.mi ˈɛ/. The phrase has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In some formal Brazilian introductions, a person might use the phrase me chamo [name], which literally means 'I call myself'.
- Even though oi is a common way to say 'hi', it is a purely phonetic interjection that has no semantic connection to the English exclamation 'oi!' used to get someone's attention.
- Depending on the region in Brazil, the greeting oi can be stretched into a long, melodic sound to signal friendliness and warmth during an introduction.
Examples in context
- Oi, meu nome é [your name].Hi, my name is [your name].
- E aí, sou o/a [your name].What's up, I'm [your name].
- Oi, meu nome é Carlos.Hi, my name is Carlos.
- Oi, meu nome é Ana, prazer.Hi, my name is Ana, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Lucas meets Beatriz at a social gathering.
- LucasOi, meu nome é Lucas.Hi, my name is Lucas.
- BeatrizOi, Lucas, eu sou a Beatriz.Hi, Lucas, I am Beatriz.
- LucasPrazer em conhecer você, Beatriz.Nice to meet you, Beatriz.
- BeatrizO prazer é meu.The pleasure is mine.
