me llaman
/me ʝaman/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I go by" can be translated into Spanish as me llaman.
Use me llaman specifically when you want to explain that people use a specific nickname or a different name than your legal one.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to they call me, where me is the object pronoun me and llaman is the third-person plural of the verb llamar (to call).
Which one should you use?
While me llaman is used to introduce a nickname, the phrase me llamo (which literally means "I call myself") is the standard way to introduce your actual name.
How does it change in a sentence?
While me llaman (they call me) is used to introduce a nickname, me llamo (I call myself) is the standard way to introduce your actual name.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ʝaman/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, me dicen is the preferred way to introduce a nickname over me llaman, which can sometimes sound like a literal phone call or a formal summons.
- The verb llamar is a cognate of the English word 'call', but its root specifically refers to 'calling out' or 'shouting' to get someone's attention.
- The pronoun me in this phrase traces back to the Latin accusative 'mē', which was used to mark the direct object of a verb.
Examples in context
- Me llaman Paco.They call me Paco.
- Me llaman Beto.I go by Beto.
- Mis amigos me llaman Pau.My friends call me Pau.
- No es mi nombre real, pero me llaman así.It is not my real name, but that's what I go by.
Example conversation
Two students are meeting for the first time in a classroom.
- MateoHola, soy Mateo.Hi, I'm Mateo.
- LucíaMucho gusto, Mateo. Yo soy Lucía.Nice to meet you, Mateo. I am Lucía.
- MateoEncantado, Lucía. ¿Te gusta la clase?Pleased to meet you, Lucía. Do you like the class?
- LucíaSí, pero en mi familia me llaman Luci.Yes, but in my family I go by Luci.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
