My Name Is… (Me llamo)
Introduce yourself and ask others their names. Use me llamo, ¿cómo te llamas?, mucho gusto.
A lesson of Spanish A1 — Beginner, in Greetings & Introductions, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to introduce yourself in Spanish, ask someone's name, and respond to introductions politely.
Introducing Yourself
Me llamo ___. My name is ___.
Literally: "I call myself ___." This is the most natural way to introduce yourself in Spanish.
Me llamo María. — My name is María. Me llamo Carlos. — My name is Carlos.
The verb llamarse (to be called) uses a reflexive form — me llamo means "I call myself." For now, just memorize me llamo as a fixed phrase.
Asking Someone's Name
¿Cómo te llamas? What is your name? (informal — use with peers, children, people your age)
¿Cómo se llama usted? What is your name? (formal — use with adults, strangers, authority figures)
The difference between te (informal) and se/usted (formal) is the informal/formal distinction (tuteo vs. ustedeo). Use tú with friends, usted with elders and superiors.
The Conversation
Asking informally:
— ¿Cómo te llamas? — Me llamo Sofía. ¿Y tú? (And you?) — Me llamo Andrés.
The phrase ¿Y tú? (And you?) is extremely useful — it bounces the question back and keeps conversation flowing.
Nice to Meet You
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mucho gusto | MOO-cho GOOS-toh | Nice to meet you |
| Encantado/a | en-kan-TAH-doh/dah | Delighted / Pleased to meet you |
| El gusto es mío | el GOOS-toh es MEE-oh | The pleasure is mine |
Gender agreement with encantado:
- Male speaker: encantado
- Female speaker: encantada
Full Introduction Exchange
— ¡Hola! ¿Cómo te llamas? — Me llamo Elena. ¿Y tú? — Me llamo Diego. Mucho gusto, Elena. —