hola, me llamo Kayla
The English phrase "hi, my name is kayla" translates to Spanish as hola, me llamo Kayla.
This phrase is a friendly greeting used when introducing yourself to another person for the first time. In this expression, Hola means "hello" and me llamo means "my name is".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me llamo literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
While English uses the verb "to be" (is) to state a name, Spanish commonly uses the reflexive verb llamarse (to call oneself).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might say Hola, soy Kayla, ¿y tú? to mean "Hi, I am Kayla and you?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression me llamo uses the reflexive form of the verb llamar (to call) to indicate that the subject is performing the action on themselves.
When do people say it?
When meeting someone, you might also say Encantada de conocerte, which means "Nice to meet you".
Did you know?
- Some linguists have explored whether hola is related to the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'by God'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase hola is often accompanied by a light kiss on each cheek or a single kiss on the right cheek.
- If the speaker is female, she says encantada when saying 'nice to meet you', but a male speaker must say encantado.
Examples in context
- Hola, me llamo Kayla. ¿Y tú?Hi, my name is Kayla. And you?
- Hola, me llamo Kayla y soy nueva aquí.Hi, my name is Kayla and I am new here.
- Hola, me llamo Kayla, ¿cuál es tu nombre?Hi, my name is Kayla, what is your name?
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a party.
- MateoHola, me llamo Mateo. ¿Cómo te llamas?Hi, my name is Mateo. What is your name?
- ElenaHola, me llamo Kayla. Encantada.Hi, my name is Kayla. Pleased to meet you.
- MateoMucho gusto, Kayla. ¿De dónde eres?Nice to meet you, Kayla. Where are you from?
- ElenaSoy de Estados Unidos.I am from the United States.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
