Lesson 2 – Introduce Yourself in Spanish
Learn how to introduce yourself in Spanish by greeting someone, saying your name and asking another person’s name.
You will practise both informal and respectful expressions so that you can use them confidently in a real first conversation.
OPTIONAL — EXPLORE ONLY IF YOU WANT BASIC GRAMMAR Applied to today’s lessonEssential Phrases to Introduce Yourself in Spanish
Tap the speaker icon and repeat each expression three times: slowly first, then with a natural rhythm. Use your own name whenever the phrase allows it.
1. Hello
Use Hola to begin a conversation at any time of day. It works in informal and many everyday situations.
2. Good Morning
Use Buenos días in the morning and when you want to sound polite.
3. Good Afternoon
Use Buenas tardes from the afternoon into the early evening.
4. Good Evening
Use Buenas noches when greeting someone later in the evening or at night.
5. My Name Is…
Add your name after Me llamo when you introduce yourself: Me llamo Alex.
6. I Am…
You can also use Soy followed by your name: Soy Alex. For today’s introduction, Me llamo… is the clearest choice.
7. What Is Your Name? – Informal
Use this with a friend, another student or someone in a relaxed situation.
8. What Is Your Name? – Respectful
Use this when you want to be respectful, for example with an older person, an employer or someone you do not know.
9. Nice to Meet You
Say Mucho gusto after the other person tells you their name. The expression is the same for every speaker.
10. Pleased to Meet You
A man normally says Encantado; a woman normally says Encantada. Choose the form that refers to you.
Speak with a Natural Introduction Rhythm
Do not separate every word with a long pause. Say each short expression as one group, and make a small pause between ideas.
Repeat the complete introduction slowly once. Then say it again without stopping between individual words.
Practise Introducing Yourself in Spanish
Complete the short activity below. You can retry it if you need more practice.
Listen to a Short Spanish Introduction
Imagine that you are meeting someone at a reception desk in Spain.
Tap the speaker icon beside each line and listen while reading. Then cover the second speaker’s lines, play each part again and respond aloud.
Check Your Understanding
Answer these questions before opening the solutions.
- What greeting do both speakers use?
- What are the two names?
- Is the question informal or respectful?
Show the answers
- Both speakers say Buenos días.
- The names are Alex and Carmen.
- It is respectful because the speaker says usted.
Play the dialogue once more. This time, replace Alex or Carmen with your own name.
Introduce Yourself in Spanish in Real Life
Situation 1 — Meet a New Classmate
You meet another student before a class. Greet the person, say your name and ask their name informally. Speak before opening the possible response.
Show a possible response
Hola. Me llamo Alex. ¿Cómo te llamas?
Situation 2 — A First Meeting at a Home
You arrive at a home for a first meeting. An older person opens the door. Greet them, introduce yourself and ask their name respectfully. Respond before opening the possible response.
Show a possible response
Buenos días. Me llamo Alex. ¿Cómo se llama usted?
Say your response once while reading. Then close the possible response and say it again without looking.
Write Something Useful
Prepare a three-line introduction that you can practise before meeting someone. Use your real name and choose either the informal or respectful question.
Greeting: ______________________________
Name: _________________________________
Question: ______________________________
Read your introduction aloud twice. On the second attempt, look only at the person’s name, not at your sentences.
Final Speaking Challenge
Complete these situations without looking back at the lesson.
- Greet someone in the morning and say your name.
- Ask a new classmate’s name.
- Ask an older person’s name respectfully.
- Respond after someone tells you their name.
Show possible answers
- Buenos días. Me llamo…
- ¿Cómo te llamas?
- ¿Cómo se llama usted?
- Mucho gusto or Encantado / Encantada.
If you can choose the appropriate expressions and introduce yourself in Spanish without reading, you have achieved today’s practical goal.
Basic Grammar — Applied to This Lesson
This section is optional. You can complete today’s lesson without studying it.
Me llamo, te llamas and se llama
These forms belong to the verb llamarse, but you only need the three patterns used today:
- Me llamo… — My name is…
- ¿Cómo te llamas? — What is your name? (informal)
- ¿Cómo se llama usted? — What is your name? (respectful)
Learn each expression as a complete pattern. You do not need a full verb table.
Tú and usted
Spanish uses different forms of “you”. Use tú in relaxed, informal situations and usted when you want to show respect.
- ¿Cómo te llamas? — informal
- ¿Cómo se llama usted? — respectful
The question itself normally shows which relationship the speaker has chosen.
For a more detailed explanation, see the Real Academia Española’s explanation of tú and usted.
Soy and me llamo
Both Soy Alex and Me llamo Alex can be used to introduce your name. Me llamo… specifically tells the other person your name, so it is the most useful pattern for today’s goal.
You will use soy for other personal information in the next lesson. For now, practise it only with your name.