mijn naam is…
The English phrase "my name is" can be expressed in Dutch as mijn naam is… or ik heet…
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| mijn naam is… | |
| ik heet… | /ɪk ɦeːt/ (stressed, word by word) |
These phrases are used to identify yourself to others when introducing yourself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mijn naam is… uses the possessive pronoun mijn (my) and the singular verb is (is).
Which one should you use?
The phrase ik heet… translates to "I am called…" and is considered the most common and natural way to introduce oneself in everyday Dutch conversation. In contrast, mijn naam is… is slightly more formal than using the verb heten.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ik heet…, the verb heten (to be called) is conjugated in the first person singular present tense.
Did you know?
- The word mijn is also linked to the unique process of a Dutch auction, where bidders shout mijn to claim an item.
- In the Netherlands and Belgium, it is common to omit the phrase 'my name is' entirely during casual introductions and simply say your name.
- In many Dutch contexts, if you want to be even more casual than 'ik heet', you might simply say 'Ik ben…' (I am…), which is very common in social settings.
Examples in context
- Mijn naam is Anna.My name is Anna.
- Ik heet Peter.My name is Peter.
- Ik ben Lisa.My name is Lisa.
- Ik heet Sarah.My name is Sarah.
- Mijn naam is David. Fijn u te ontmoeten.My name is David. Nice to meet you.
- Ik heet Professor van den Berg. Aangenaam kennis te maken.My name is Professor van den Berg. Pleasure to meet you.
- Ik ben Marieke. Bedankt voor de kans om mezelf voor te stellen.My name is Marieke. Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself.
- Ik ben Jasper. Leuk je te ontmoeten.I'm Jasper. Nice to meet you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ik, heet) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries heet, ik, mijn, naam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
