me llamo Ava
/me ʝamo aba/from spelling rules
To say "my name is Ava" in Spanish, use me llamo Ava.
The 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 Ava is grammatically correct, me llamo Ava is much more common and natural in spoken Spanish when introducing yourself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb llamar is used reflexively in the phrase me llamo, which is why it begins with the pronoun me.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word nombre used in mi nombre es shares a root with the English word 'renown', both coming from the Latin word for 'name'.
- While me llamo is the standard, in certain parts of Latin America, you might hear someone use soy… (I am…) as a much more common and casual way to introduce themselves in social settings.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a simple introduction like me llamo… is often followed by an immediate question about the other person's name to establish a social connection. It is considered polite to return the gesture quickly.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, mi nombre es Ava.Good morning, my name is Ava.
- Mucho gusto, me llamo Ava.Nice to meet you, my name is Ava.
- Soy estudiante y me llamo Ava.I am a student and my name is Ava.
Example conversation
Two students meet for the first time in class.
- LucíaHola, me llamo Ava.Hello, my name is Ava.
- AlejandroHola, Ava. Yo soy Alejandro.Hello, Ava. I am Alejandro.
- Lucía¿Cómo estás, Alejandro?How are you, Alejandro?
- AlejandroMuy bien, gracias.Very well, thank you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
