Meu nome é
neutral
In Brazil you introduce yourself with Meu nome é followed by your name. People also say Eu me chamo or the casual Eu sou o Pedro or Eu sou a Ana. It is also called Eu sou o / a.
Meaning: introducing oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Meu nome é | neutral |
| Eu me chamo | neutral, polite |
| Eu sou o / a | casual |
Meu nome é Ana works everywhere. Eu me chamo Ana literally means "I call myself Ana" and sounds a little more formal or polished.
How does it change in a sentence?
With Eu sou, Brazilians add o before a man's name and a before a woman's name, as in Eu sou a Ana.
When do people say it?
After introducing yourself it is natural to say Prazer (nice to meet you), often with a handshake or a cheek kiss.
Did you know?
- Many Brazilians use a nickname rather than their full name, and it is normal to be called by a short name like Zé for José.
Examples in context
- Meu nome é Carlos.My name is Carlos.
- Eu me chamo Beatriz.My name is Beatriz.
- Eu sou o Pedro, e você?I am Pedro, and you?
Example conversation
Pedro introduces himself to a new classmate Juliana on the first day of school in São Paulo.
- PedroOi! Meu nome é Pedro.Hi! My name is Pedro.
- JulianaEu me chamo Juliana. Prazer!My name is Juliana. Nice to meet you!
- PedroPrazer! Você é nova aqui?Nice to meet you! Are you new here?
