Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| benim adım | /benim adɯm/ (from spelling rules) |
| benim ismim | /benim ismim/ (from spelling rules) |
These phrases are used to identify yourself by stating your name.
What does it mean word for word?
In the form benim adım, the word adım consists of ad, meaning name and the first-person singular possessive suffix -ım, meaning my.
Which one should you use?
While benim adım and benim ismim are interchangeable, adım is more common in daily speech. You can also drop the possessive pronoun benim and simply say Adım [Name] to mean "My name is [Name]".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Turkish, the verb "to be" is often omitted in simple identity statements like "my name is [Name]" because the possessive suffix on the noun carries the necessary meaning.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /benim adɯm/. The /b/ is like the b in [b]out, the /n/ is like the n in [n]ot, the /i/ is like the ee in cr[ee]k, the /m/ is like the m in [m]uch and the /ɯ/ is somewhat like the o in ribb[o]n.
Did you know?
- While benim adım identifies you, Turkish speakers often use the phrase memnun oldum immediately after, which translates to 'I became pleased'.
- The word isim in benim ismim comes from Arabic, while ad in benim adım is of native Turkic origin.
- Early forms of the word benim appear in the Orkhon inscriptions of Bilge Khagan and Kul Tigin, dating back over a millennium.
Examples in context
- Benim adım da Tom.My name is Tom, too.This sentence shows how to use benim adım to say your name is also someone else's.Tatoeba #3761986 by duran, translation #3819161 by CK
- Benim adım Xiao Yu.My name is Xiao Yu.This sentence uses benim adım to state your name.Tatoeba #8203490 by deyta, translation #7242769 by RoyalBee
- Benim adım hiç kimse.My name is Nobody.This sentence uses benim adım in a humorous way to say your name is Nobody.Tatoeba #4809232 by deyta, translation #3104209 by mhenderson5
- Adım Ali.My name is Ali.
- Adım Ayşe.My name is Ayşe.
- Adım Mustafa.My name is Mustafa.
- İsmim Mehmet.My name is Mehmet.
- İsmim Zeynep.My name is Zeynep.
- İsmim Cem.My name is Cem.
- 170 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are meeting at a language course.
- BurakMerhaba, benim adım Burak.Hello, my name is Burak.
- MerveMemnun oldum Burak, benim adım Merve.Nice to meet you Burak, my name is Merve.
- BurakTanıştığımıza memnun oldum, Merve.Nice to meet you, Merve.
- MerveBen de memnun oldum.Nice to meet you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations and entries benim adım, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adım, benim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
