зовем се
Cyrillic
The English phrase "my name is" can be translated into Serbian using several forms, most commonly зовем се (Cyrillic) or zovem se (Latin). Wiktionary also lists ја сам and моје име је.
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Serbian | Note |
|---|---|
| зовем се | Cyrillic |
| ја сам | Cyrillic |
| моје име је | Cyrillic |
| име ми је | Cyrillic |
| zovem se | Latin |
| ja sam | Latin |
| moje ime je | Latin |
| ime mi je | Latin |
These phrases are used to introduce yourself and state your identity. When using зовем се, you do not need to include a possessive pronoun like "my" because the verb conjugation already implies the first person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase зовем се literally means "I call myself" or "I am called".
Which one should you use?
зовем се is the most natural and common way to introduce yourself in Serbian, whereas моје име је sounds more formal or slightly stiff. The phrase ја сам (I am) is used to state your identity directly, often followed by your name, but it is more emphatic than зовем се.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase име ми је, the word ми is the dative form of 'ja' (I), making the literal structure 'name to me is'.
Did you know?
- When introduced to someone new, a Serbian speaker might respond to зовем се by saying драго ми је, which literally means 'it is dear to me' rather than 'nice to meet you'.
- In a professional Serbian setting, it is common to introduce yourself by saying зовем се and then immediately offering a firm handshake while maintaining steady eye contact.
- The word име ('name') is a distant relative of the English word 'name', both descending from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁nómn̥.
Examples in context
- Име ми је Јиамин Ванг.My name is Wang Jiaming.This sentence shows how to use име ми је to provide a name.Tatoeba #1183335 by Dimitrije, translation #579138 by FeuDRenais2
- Zovem se Ićiro Tanaka.My name is Ichiro Tanaka.This sentence demonstrates the common use of zovem se for introductions.Tatoeba #3438826 by neron, translation #322941 by CN
- Моје име је Џејмс,али молим те зови ме Џим.My name is James, but please call me Jim.This sentence illustrates the use of моје име је when providing a name and a nickname.Tatoeba #3791332 by Ricardo14, translation #251977 by CN
- Moje ime je Ana.My name is Ana.
- Zovem se Jovana.My name is Jovana.
- Ja sam Nikola.I am Nikola.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a party.
- MilicaЗдраво, зовем се Милица. Драго ми је.Hello, my name is Milica. Nice to meet you.
- StefanЗдраво, Милице. Ја сам Стефан.Hello, Milica. I am Stefan.
- MilicaДраго ми је, Стефане.Nice to meet you, Stefan.
- StefanТакође!Likewise!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries име, сам, се, ја, је, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
