me llamo …
In Spanish, "my name is" can be expressed as me llamo … or mi nombre es …
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish |
|---|
| me llamo … |
| mi nombre es … |
These phrases are used to identify yourself when meeting someone or providing your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me llamo literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
Mi nombre es … translates directly to "my name is …" and is typically used in official contexts or when filling out forms.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often attempt to say yo me llamo to include the word "I". However, it is usually better to omit the pronoun yo because the verb ending in llamo already makes it clear that the subject is "I".
Did you know?
- The word nombre can be used in the common exclamation ¡No, hombre!, which translates to 'No, man!' and is used to express disbelief or emphasis.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to introduce yourself with both your first name and your paternal surname, omitting the maternal surname entirely in informal settings.
- Because me llamo is reflexive, it shares a grammatical structure with the way Spanish speakers describe their own physical appearance or personality.
Examples in context
- Mi nombre es María.My name is María.
- Me llamo Juan.My name is Juan.
- Mi nombre es Pedro. Mucho gusto.My name is Pedro. Nice to meet you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, me, mi, nombre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
