me llamo …
To say "my name is" in Spanish, you use me llamo … Wiktionary also lists mi nombre es …
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish |
|---|
| me llamo … |
| mi nombre es … |
These phrases are used to identify yourself when introducing yourself to others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me llamo literally translates to "I call myself", while mi nombre es is a literal word-for-word translation of "my name is".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, it is common to use Yo me llamo instead of Me llamo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb in me llamo is reflexive, which is why it requires the reflexive pronoun me.
What mistakes should you avoid?
While Yo soy [name] is grammatically possible, it is much less common for a standard introduction than using me llamo.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, people often introduce themselves with their full name, including both the paternal and maternal surnames, rather than just a single last name.
- The word nombre can also be a spoken contraction of ¡no, hombre!, which is an exclamation used to express disbelief or surprise similar to 'no way, man!'
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, introducing yourself with just me llamo followed by your first name is often considered too informal for business or official settings.
Examples in context
- Me llamo María.My name is María.
- Mi nombre es Juan.My name is Juan.
- Soy Ana.I am Ana.
- Me llamo Carlos.My name is Carlos.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, me, mi, nombre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
