Most commonly expressed as ¿Cómo te llamas? or ¿Cómo se llama?, “What is your name?” is one of the first questions in Spanish you’ll want to learn. Knowing how to introduce yourself is also an essential step in learning Spanish.
There are a few different ways to ask “What is your name?” in Spanish, and which one you use depends on whether you are speaking to someone in a casual or formal setting.
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Informal ways to ask ‘What is your name?’ in Spanish
When asking “What is your name?” to one person in a casual setting, you’ll use the pronoun tú, the informal, singular form of “you” in Spanish.
¿Cómo te llamas?
¿Cómo te llamas? is the most common way to ask “What’s your name?” in Spanish in informal settings, whether you’re talking to a peer, child, or even a pet. Here are some examples:
- Hola, ¿cómo te llamas? = Hello, what’s your name?
- Oye, ¿eres nuevo en la clase? ¿Cómo te llamas? = Hey, are you new in class? What’s your name?
¿Cuál es tu nombre?
You can also use the Spanish possessive adjective tú to ask ¿Cuál es tu nombre?, which is the more direct translation of “What is your name?” For example:
- Disculpa, no te he visto antes. ¿Cuál es tu nombre? = Excuse me, I haven’t seen you before. What’s your name?
- Nos vimos en la fiesta de Ana el otro día. ¿Cuál es tu nombre? = We saw each other at Ana’s party the other day. What’s your name?
How to say ‘What is your name?’ in Spanish formally
You’ll use the pronoun usted and its corresponding reflexive pronoun se to ask someone’s name in more formal or official conversations, like when speaking to a professor, elder, or police officer.
¿Cómo se llama?
In situations that call for a show of respect when addressing someone, you’ll need to ask ¿Cómo se llama?, the formal version of ¿Cómo te llamas?, when asking the person’s name. Note that you’ll need to switch te for se.
- Buenas tardes, ¿usted es el padre de Sara? ¿Cómo se llama? = Good afternoon, are you Sara’s father? What is your name?
- Disculpe, señor, ¿podría decirme cómo se llama? = Excuse me, sir, could you tell me what your name is?
¿Cuál es su nombre?
You can make ¿Cuál es tu nombre? formal by simply replacing tu with the formal, singular possessive adjective su. Here are some examples:
- ¿Ya nos conocemos? ¿Cuál es su nombre? = Have we met before? What’s your name?
- Debe ser la nueva asistente. ¿Cuál es su nombre? = You must be the new assistant. What’s your name?
Introducing yourself in Spanish
Once you’ve asked someone what their name is, you’ll naturally want to introduce yourself. To do so, there are two common ways to say “my name is” in Spanish.
Me llamo
When learning how to say your name in Spanish, the most common and natural way to do so is by using the verb llamarse (to be called) and conjugating it in the yo form. For example:
- Mucho gusto, me llamo Sofía. = Nice to meet you, my name is Sofia.
- Hola, me llamo Juan. = Hello, my name is Juan.
Mi nombre es
If a more direct, word-for-word translation makes it easier for you to remember, you can also use mi nombre es. For example:
- Mi nombre es Gabriela, ¿en qué puedo servirle? = My name is Gabriela, how can I help you?
- Hola, mi nombre es Elena, soy la nueva vecina. = Hello, my name is Elena, I’m the new neighbor.
Introducing another person in Spanish
These phrases are useful for introducing someone else in Spanish in both casual and professional settings.
| Spanish | English |
| Te presento a… | Let me introduce you to… (informal) |
| Le presento a… | Let me introduce you to… (formal) |
| Este es… | This is… (for a male) |
| Esta es… | This is… (for a female) |
| Él se llama… | His name is… |
| Ella se llama… | Her name is… |
Useful Spanish phrases for initial conversations
After you’ve exchanged names with someone, you can use these fundamental Spanish phrases to keep the conversation going and make a good impression.
| Spanish | English |
| Mucho gusto. | Nice to meet you. |
| Encantado/a. | Pleased to meet you. |
| Igualmente. | Likewise. |
| ¿De dónde eres? | Where are you from? (Informal) |
| Soy de… | I am from… |
| ¿A qué te dedicas? | What do you do for a living? (Informal) |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? (informal) |
| Estoy bien, gracias. | I’m well, thanks. |
Spanish naming conventions
Here are some key vocabulary words to help you understand and talk about naming conventions in the Spanish-speaking world.
| Spanish | English |
| nombre | name |
| nombre de pila | first name |
| apellido | last name/surname |
| apodo | nickname |
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people have two last names: the father’s last name (apellido paterno) followed by the mother’s last name (apellido materno).
Learn how to get to know someone new with Rosetta Stone
Talking with a stranger or someone you have just met in Spanish can be an intimidating experience. Even after you equip yourself with key vocabulary and phrases like “What is your name?” and how to say “hello” in Spanish, you may find it challenging to put it all together in a conversation.
With a Rosetta Stone tutor, you can practice initial conversations in a comfortable environment where you can make mistakes without fear and hone in on your pronunciation. You’ll be ready for any conversation!
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