me llamo Grace
/me ʝamo ɡɾaθe/from spelling rules
To say "my name is Grace" in Spanish, you say me llamo Grace.
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 Grace is a grammatically correct way to say "My name is Grace", the phrase me llamo Grace is the more natural and common way to introduce yourself in Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression uses the reflexive form of the verb llamarse (to call oneself) to express one's name.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ʝamo ɡɾaθe/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, people may respond to me llamo by saying el gusto es mío, which means 'the pleasure is mine'. This shifts the focus from the name to the honor of meeting the person.
- The word me comes from the Latin mē, which was the accusative singular form of ego.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, simply saying me llamo Grace is often followed by a question about your origin, such as ¿de dónde eres?, to establish social connection.
Examples in context
- Me llamo Grace.My name is Grace.
- Mucho gusto, me llamo Grace.Nice to meet you, my name is Grace.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a party.
- JavierHola, ¿cómo te llamas?Hi, what is your name?
- ElenaHola, me llamo Grace. ¿Y tú?Hi, my name is Grace. And you?
- JavierYo soy Javier. Mucho gusto, Grace.I am Javier. Nice to meet you, Grace.
- ElenaIgualmente, Javier.Likewise, Javier.
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.
