Lesson 2 — Hello, My Name Is…
Today you will learn how to greet someone, introduce yourself and ask another person’s name.
You can use these expressions when you meet a neighbour, a receptionist, a new employer or any other person for the first time.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to begin and finish a short introduction in Spanish.
New Phrases
1. Hello
🔊 Hola.
Use this general greeting at any time of day.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
2. Good morning
🔊 Buenos días.
Use this greeting during the morning.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
3. Good afternoon
🔊 Buenas tardes.
Use this greeting during the afternoon and early evening.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
4. Good evening or good night
🔊 Buenas noches.
Use this greeting at night.
You can also use it when you leave someone at night.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
5. My name is…
🔊 Me llamo…
Add your name after the expression.
Example:
🔊 Me llamo [your name].
Use this expression when you introduce yourself.
Listen and repeat it three times using your own name.
6. I am…
🔊 Soy…
Add your name after the expression.
Example:
🔊 Soy [your name].
This is another short and natural way to introduce yourself.
Listen and repeat it three times using your own name.
7. What is your name? — Informal
🔊 ¿Cómo te llamas?
Use this question with a friend, a child or someone who speaks to you informally.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
8. What is your name? — Formal
🔊 ¿Cómo se llama usted?
Use this polite question with a new employer, a receptionist, an older person or someone you do not know.
When you are unsure which form to use, the formal question is usually safer.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
9. Nice to meet you
🔊 Mucho gusto.
Use this expression after another person tells you their name.
Men and women can both use it.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
10. Delighted to meet you
🔊 Encantada.
This is another way for a woman to say “Nice to meet you.”
A man normally says:
🔊 Encantado.
Listen and repeat the phrase three times.
Speaking Rhythm
A short introduction sounds more natural when you say it in small groups.
Listen to each complete group before repeating it.
🔊 Buenos días. | Me llamo [your name].
🔊 Hola. | Soy [your name].
🔊 ¿Cómo se llama usted? | Mucho gusto.
🔊 Hola. | Me llamo [your name]. | Encantada.
Do not separate every word. Keep the words in each group connected.
Practice
Answer each question aloud before writing your answer.
1
It is 9:00 in the morning.
What do you say?
2
It is 5:00 in the afternoon.
What do you say?
3
It is 10:00 at night.
What do you say?
4
Complete the sentence with your own name:
Me llamo _______________________________.
5
Complete the sentence in another way:
Soy ________________________________.
6
You are speaking to a child.
Choose the correct question:
A. ¿Cómo te llamas?
B. ¿Cómo se llama usted?
Answer: __________
7
You are meeting a new employer.
Choose the correct question:
A. ¿Cómo te llamas?
B. ¿Cómo se llama usted?
Answer: __________
8
Someone tells you their name.
Write one polite response:
Listening and Dialogue
First, listen to the dialogue without reading it.
Ask someone to read it aloud, or use Read Aloud.
Listen a second time while reading the dialogue.
Finally, read the second person’s lines aloud.
Dialogue
— Buenos días. Me llamo [name]. ¿Cómo se llama usted?
— Buenos días. Me llamo [your name]. Mucho gusto.
— Encantada.
Questions
- Is the conversation happening in the morning, afternoon or night?
- Is the name question formal or informal?
- Which expression is used after hearing the other person’s name?
Real-Life Situation
Imagine that you arrive at a house and meet a possible employer for the first time.
It is morning.
The employer says:
🔊 Buenos días.
Continue the conversation in Spanish.
You need to:
- Return the greeting.
- Say your name.
- Ask the employer’s name politely.
- Respond after hearing the name.
Try to complete the conversation before looking at the possible response.
Possible Response
Buenos días.
Me llamo [your name].
¿Cómo se llama usted?
Mucho gusto.
Repeat the situation without reading the possible response.
Now change the situation.
Imagine that you meet a friendly neighbour.
Use an informal greeting and question.
Possible Response
Hola.
Soy [your name].
¿Cómo te llamas?
Encantada.
Short Writing Activity
Write a short formal introduction of four lines.
Include:
- A morning greeting.
- Your name.
- The formal name question.
- A polite response.
Final Review
Answer without looking at the new phrases.
1
You meet someone at any time of day.
What general greeting can you use?
2
You meet someone in the morning.
What do you say?
3
Introduce yourself using Me llamo.
4
Ask a friend’s name.
5
Ask a new employer’s name.
6
Someone tells you their name.
Respond politely.
Answers
Practice
- Buenos días.
- Buenas tardes.
- Buenas noches.
- Me llamo [your name].
- Soy [your name].
- A — ¿Cómo te llamas?
- B — ¿Cómo se llama usted?
- Mucho gusto. or Encantada.
Dialogue Questions
- The conversation is happening in the morning.
- The question is formal.
- Mucho gusto.
Final Review
- Hola.
- Buenos días.
- Me llamo [your name].
- ¿Cómo te llamas?
- ¿Cómo se llama usted?
- Mucho gusto. or Encantada.
Basic Grammar — Applied to This Lesson
1. “Yo,” “tú” and “usted”
English uses “you” in both formal and informal situations.
Spanish has two different forms:
- tú is informal.
- usted is formal and polite.
Compare these questions:
¿Cómo te llamas?
Use this with a friend, a child or someone you know well.
¿Cómo se llama usted?
Use this with an employer, a receptionist or someone you do not know.
You do not need to study a complete grammar table today. Learn both questions as complete expressions.
2. “Me llamo” and “soy”
Spanish has two natural ways to say your name.
Me llamo [your name].
This means “My name is…”
Soy [your name].
This means “I am…”
Both expressions are correct.
Do not combine them.
Correct:
Me llamo [your name].
Correct:
Soy [your name].
Incorrect:
Me llamo soy [your name].
3. “Encantada” and “encantado”
Some Spanish words change according to whether the speaker is a woman or a man.
A woman normally says:
Encantada.
A man normally says:
Encantado.
The final letter changes:
- -a for a woman.
- -o for a man.
The expression Mucho gusto does not change. Men and women use the same form.