¿Cómo te llamas?
informal
To ask a girl her name, say ¿Cómo te llamas? It is informal and the most common way. With an adult you should be formal with, say ¿Cómo se llama usted? It is also called ¿Cuál es tu nombre?
Meaning: question asking for someone's name (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | informal |
| ¿Cuál es tu nombre? | neutral |
| ¿Cómo se llama usted? | formal |
Which one should you use?
¿Cuál es tu nombre? is also correct and sounds a bit more direct. In a reply she says Me llamo Laura or Soy Laura.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use te llamas with children and people your age. Use se llama with strangers who are older or in formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
¿Cómo te llamas? literally means "how do you call yourself?" The question is the same for a woman and a man.
Did you know?
- The Spanish for "my name is" is me llamo, literally "I call myself".
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿cómo te llamas?Hi, what is your name?
- ¿Cuál es tu nombre?What is your name?
- Perdone, ¿cómo se llama usted?Excuse me, what is your name?
Example conversation
Marcos meets a new girl, Lidia, at a language class.
- MarcosHola, soy Marcos. ¿Cómo te llamas?Hi, I am Marcos. What is your name?
- LidiaMe llamo Lidia. Mucho gusto.My name is Lidia. Nice to meet you.
- MarcosIgualmente, Lidia.Likewise, Lidia.
