meu nome
/mew ˈnõ.mi/word by word
The English phrase "my name" is meu nome in Portuguese.
meu nome is used to express "my name".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of meu (my) and nome (name).
Which one should you use?
While meu nome é… is grammatically correct for "my name is…", in casual spoken Portuguese, people more commonly use Eu sou… (I am…) or meu nome é… is often replaced by Me chamo… (I call myself…).
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive adjective meu must agree in gender with the noun nome, which is masculine.
Did you know?
- While meu nome refers to your given name, Portuguese speakers use the word apelido differently depending on the country. In Portugal, apelido means 'surname', but in Brazil, it means 'nickname'.
- In traditional Portuguese culture, it is common for people to have multiple surnames inherited from both parents, making a full nome much longer than is typical in English.
- If you were using the phrase in a very old-fashioned or poetic context, you might encounter the word nome used to refer to one's 'reputation' or 'fame' rather than just a linguistic label.
Examples in context
- Meu nome é Tom.My name is Tom.This sentence is useful for saying your name using meu nome.Tatoeba #1318805 by bufo, translation #1173265 by cntrational
- Meu nome é Jim.My name is Jim.Tatoeba #6917195 by Bran, translation #4010269 by falekseev
- Meu nome é Jack.My name is Jack.Tatoeba #397602 by brauliobezerra, translation #1646 by CN
- 205 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana meet for the first time at a party.
- GabrielOi! Meu nome é Gabriel.Hi! My name is Gabriel.
- MarianaPrazer, Gabriel. Eu sou a Mariana.Nice to meet you, Gabriel. I am Mariana.
- GabrielVocê mora por aqui, Mariana?Do you live around here, Mariana?
- MarianaSim, eu moro na rua ao lado.Yes, I live on the next street.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (meu, nome) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
