me llamo Alexis
/me ʝamo aleɡsis/from spelling rules
To say "my name is alexis" in Spanish, use me llamo Alexis.
This phrase is used to introduce yourself by stating your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me llamo literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
While Mi nombre es Alexis is grammatically correct, me llamo Alexis is much more common and natural in spoken Spanish when introducing yourself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In most Latin American countries, Me llamo Alexis. is widely used. In Mexico, it is common to use the concise form Soy Alexis. to introduce oneself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression uses the reflexive form of the verb llamarse (to call oneself) to indicate one's name.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ʝamo aleɡsis/
Did you know?
- While me llamo is used for introductions, the verb llamar is also used to describe the ringing of a phone or the ringing of church bells.
- Choosing between ¿Cómo te llamas? and ¿Cómo se llama usted? is critical, as using the wrong one can make a speaker seem accidentally rude or stiff.
- The word me is a distant relative of the English 'me', descending from the Latin mē and an even older Proto-Indo-European root.
Examples in context
- Hola, me llamo Alexis.Hello, my name is Alexis.
- Mucho gusto, me llamo Alexis.Nice to meet you, my name is Alexis.
- Perdone, me llamo Alexis y busco a la directora.Excuse me, my name is Alexis and I am looking for the director.
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.
