Come ti chiami?
To ask 'what is your name?' in Italian, you say Come ti chiami?
The phrase is used to ask someone for their name. When you want to provide your own name in response, you use the reflexive form Mi chiamo… to say 'I call myself…'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Come ti chiami? literally translates to 'How do you call yourself?'
How does it change in a sentence?
Use Come si chiama? instead of Come ti chiami? when speaking to someone in a formal context or to someone you do not know well. While Come ti chiami? uses the informal 'tu' (you), the formal version uses the 'Lei' form.
Did you know?
- In very formal or old-fashioned Italian, some people might use Come vi chiamate? to address a single person, echoing a Latin custom of using the plural to show extreme deference.
- When answering Mi chiamo…, Italians often add the word Piacere meaning 'pleasure' while shaking hands, which functions as a shorthand for 'pleased to meet you'.
- When practicing the response Mi chiamo…, you are technically using a verb that is also used to describe telephone calls or shouting to someone across a street.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, come si chiama?Good morning, what is your name?
- Ciao! Come ti chiami?Hi! What's your name?
- Come ti chiami?What is your name?
- Scusa, come ti chiami?Excuse me, what is your name?
- E tu, come ti chiami?And you, what is your name?
Example conversation
Two students are meeting for the first time at a university.
- MatteoCiao! Io sono Matteo. Come ti chiami?Hi! I am Matteo. What is your name?
- MartinaCiao Matteo, io mi chiamo Martina.Hi Matteo, my name is Martina.
- MatteoPiacere di conoscerti, Martina.Nice to meet you, Martina.
- MartinaPiacere mio!Nice to meet you too!
