me llamo Gloria
/me ʝamo ɡloɾja/from spelling rules
To say "my name is Gloria" in Spanish, you say me llamo Gloria.
This phrase is used to introduce yourself by stating your name. me llamo Gloria is much more common and natural in spoken Spanish.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me llamo literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
The phrase Mi nombre es Gloria is a literal translation of "My name is Gloria", but it is less common in natural conversation than me llamo Gloria. You can also use the informal Soy Gloria or Yo soy Gloria to say "I am Gloria".
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression uses the reflexive form of the verb llamar, which is llamarse, to express one's name.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ʝamo ɡloɾja/
When do people say it?
A woman uses Encantada and a man uses Encantado to mean "Delighted to meet you".
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, after saying me llamo, it is common to offer a handshake, but in some regions, a light kiss on one or both cheeks is the standard social gesture accompanying an introduction.
- The name Gloria is not just a proper noun but also a common noun meaning 'glory' or 'fame'. In religious contexts, it refers to the 'Gloria in excelsis Deo' hymn used in Catholic Mass.
- In some formal contexts or legal documents, you will see Mi nombre es used instead of me llamo. However, in a casual social setting, using Mi nombre es can sound unnaturally stiff or like a translation from English.
Examples in context
- Oye, ¿cómo te llamas?Hey, what's your name?
- ¿Cuál es tu nombre?What's your name?
- Hola, ¿cuál es su nombre?Hello, what's your name?
- Mi nombre es Gloria. Encantada de conocerle.My name is Gloria. Delighted to meet you.
- Mucho gusto, me llamo Gloria.Nice to meet you, my name is Gloria.
- Hola, me llamo Gloria.Hello, my name is Gloria.
- Perdone, me llamo Gloria y soy la nueva vecina.Excuse me, my name is Gloria and I am the new neighbor.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a party.
- DanielHola, soy Daniel. ¿Cómo te llamas?Hi, I'm Daniel. What is your name?
- SofíaHola Daniel, me llamo Gloria.Hi Daniel, my name is Gloria.
- DanielMucho gusto, Gloria.Nice to meet you, Gloria.
- SofíaIgualmente, Daniel.Likewise, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
