Me llamo James
/me ʝamo xames/from spelling rules
To say "my name is James" in Spanish, you use the phrase Me llamo James.
The phrase is used to introduce yourself by stating your name. When someone introduces themselves, a polite way to respond is to say Mucho gusto (Nice to meet you) or Encantado/a (Pleased to meet you), depending on your own gender.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Me llamo literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
While Mi nombre es James is grammatically correct, Me llamo James is much more common and natural in spoken Spanish for introductions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, it is common to say Yo me llamo James.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb llamar is used in the reflexive form llamarse to express one's name.
Did you know?
- While Me llamo is standard, in very formal or bureaucratic contexts in Spanish-speaking countries, you may be asked ¿Cuál es su nombre?, which uses 'which' instead of 'what'.
- In some regions, if you introduce yourself with Me llamo, a native speaker might jokingly reply ¿Y cómo te llamas ahora?, which means 'And what do you call yourself now?'
- The verb llamar is also used to describe the act of 'calling' someone on the phone, meaning the same root is used both for introducing yourself and for making a telephone call.
Examples in context
- Me llamo James.My name is James.This is a basic introduction using the phrase Me llamo James.Tatoeba #12721205 by Shishir, translation #3647235 by CN
- Soy James, de Estados UnidosI am James, from the United States
- Me llamo James, ¿y tú?My name is James, and you?
- Mucho gusto, me llamo James.Nice to meet you, my name is James.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía meet for the first time at a party.
- JavierHola, soy Javier.Hello, I am Javier.
- LucíaHola, Javier. Yo soy Lucía.Hello, Javier. I am Lucía.
- JavierY él es mi amigo, me llamo James.And he is my friend, my name is James.
- LucíaEncantada de conocerte, James.Pleased to meet you, James.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
