me llamo William
In Spanish, 'my name is William' is translated as me llamo William.
This phrase is used to introduce yourself by stating your name.
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 William is a literal translation of 'My name is William', me llamo William is the more natural and common way to introduce yourself in Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the reflexive form of the verb llamarse to express one's name.
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, the double l in llamo can sound like a 'y' or even a 'sh' sound in Argentina and Uruguay.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to introduce yourself with just your first name, but also common to follow up with your paternal surname to avoid confusion.
- While me llamo is standard, some Spanish speakers may respond to an introduction by saying mucho gusto, which literally means 'much pleasure'.
Examples in context
- Hola, me llamo William. ¿Y tú?Hello, my name is William. And you?
- Mucho gusto, me llamo William.Nice to meet you, my name is William.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía meet for the first time at a party.
- MateoHola, me llamo William.Hello, my name is William.
- SofíaHola William, yo soy Sofía.Hello William, I am Sofía.
- MateoMucho gusto en conocerte, Sofía.Nice to meet you, Sofía.
- SofíaIgualmente, William.Likewise, William.
