me llamo …
The English phrase "my name is" can be translated into Spanish as me llamo … or mi nombre es …
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish |
|---|
| me llamo … |
| mi nombre es … |
In Spanish, you can use these phrases to identify yourself. When using me llamo …, you follow it directly with your name without needing the word es (is).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me llamo literally translates to "I call myself". The phrase mi nombre es is a literal word-for-word translation of "my name is".
Which one should you use?
Me llamo is the most common and natural way to introduce yourself in spoken Spanish. In contrast, mi nombre es can sound slightly more formal or robotic in casual conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb in me llamo is the reflexive form of llamar (to call), which is why it requires the reflexive pronoun me.
Did you know?
- The word nombre is also used as a slang exclamation ¡no, hombre!, which is used to express disbelief or surprise and translates to 'no way' or 'come on'.
- In some Latin American countries, it is common to introduce yourself with your first name and only your first surname, whereas in Spain, using both surnames is more traditional.
- The verb llamar used in me llamo is also used to describe the act of ringing a doorbell or calling someone on the phone.
Examples in context
- Soy JuanI am Juan
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.
