mihi nōmen … est
The English phrase "my name is" can be translated into Latin as mihi nōmen … est. Wiktionary also lists vocor.
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| mihi nōmen … est |
| vocor |
These phrases are used to identify oneself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mihi nōmen … est literally translates to "to me the name … is", where nomen means "name".
Which one should you use?
The form mihi nōmen … est focuses on the name itself, whereas vocor is a passive verb meaning "I am called", as in Marcus vocor.
How does it change in a sentence?
vocor is the first person singular passive of vocāre (to call), so it needs no pronoun: Iulia vocor, "I am called Julia".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using ego nōmen est, which translates to "I name is". English speakers often mistakenly use the nominative ego instead of the dative mihi when trying to say "my name is".
Did you know?
- Ancient Romans often used a string of three names, known as the 'tria nomina', when identifying themselves formally.
- The word est can also be a form of the verb edō, which means 'to eat'.
- If you use the verb vocor to say 'I am called', you are using a form that is a direct relative of the English word 'vocation'.
Examples in context
- Nomen mihi est Marcus.My name is Marcus.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, me, mihi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
