Introducing Yourself in Spanish: Complete A1 Beginner’s Guide
◄ Back to A1 Vocabulary Hub | Practice with Our Introductions Quiz ►
Key Takeaways
- Master the essential phrases for introductions, including how to use the verb llamarse.
- Confidently share your origin, nationality, and where you live.
- Learn the correct way to state your age in Spanish.
- Understand the difference between formal and informal situations.
- Practice with realistic dialogues and quick-reference charts.
Your First Conversation in Spanish
You’ve mastered “Hola” and “¿Qué tal?”. Now, let’s build your first real conversation! Introducing yourself is the gateway to making connections in Spanish. This guide brings together all the essential pieces—names, origins, and age—in one place, with links to deeper guides if you want to focus on a specific area.
The Foundation: What’s Your Name?
The most common way to ask and tell names in Spanish uses the verb llamarse (to be called).
Asking for a Name:
- ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?) – Informal, for friends, peers, and people your age.
- ¿Cómo se llama? (What’s your name?) – Formal, for elders, superiors, or to show respect.
Telling Your Name:
- Me llamo [Ana]. (My name is Ana.) – The most common and versatile phrase.
- Soy [Luis]. (I’m Luis.) – Short, simple, and very natural.
- Mi nombre es [Señor García]. (My name is Mr. Garcia.) – Slightly more formal.
💡 Pro Tip: The verb llamarse can be tricky for beginners because it changes form (me llamo, te llamas, se llama). If you want to master its full conjugation and usage, we have a dedicated guide.
👉 Deep Dive: Learn everything about the verb LLAMARSE in our complete grammar guide.
Responding and Being Polite:
After an introduction, it’s polite to express pleasure.
- Mucho gusto. (Nice to meet you.) – The standard, safe phrase for any situation.
- Encantado / Encantada. (Delighted to meet you.) – More enthusiastic. Remember the gender agreement!
- Igualmente. (Likewise.) – The perfect, simple response to any of the above.
Sharing Your Origin and Nationality
Talking about where you’re from is a fantastic way to find common ground and keep the conversation going.
Asking About Origin:
- ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?) – Informal
- ¿De dónde es? (Where are you from?) – Formal
Stating Where You’re From:
You have two main ways to answer, and both are useful.
- Soy de [Estados Unidos]. (I’m from the United States.)
- Soy [estadounidense]. (I’m American.)
| Country (English) | Country (Spanish) | Nationality (Male/Female) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Estados Unidos | estadounidense |
| Spain | España | español / española |
| Mexico | México | mexicano / mexicana |
| Colombia | Colombia | colombiano / colombiana |
| Argentina | Argentina | argentino / argentina |
| France | Francia | francés / francesa |
| Japan | Japón | japonés / japonesa |
🌍 Ready to learn more? We have a complete list of countries and nationalities to fuel your conversations.
👉 Explore our full guide: Countries and Nationalities in Spanish.
Talking About Where You Live
This is different from your nationality! You might be alemán (German) but vivir en (live in) Chile.
Asking:
- ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?) – Informal
- ¿Dónde vive? (Where do you live?) – Formal
Answering:
- Vivo en [Madrid]. (I live in Madrid.)
- Vivo en un piso. (I live in an apartment.) – Common in Spain
- Vivo en una casa. (I live in a house.)
Stating Your Age Correctly
This is a classic beginner mistake area! In Spanish, you don’t “be” an age, you “have” years.
Asking Someone’s Age:
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?) – Informal
- ¿Cuántos años tiene? (How old are you?) – Formal
Telling Your Age:
- Tengo [veinte] años. (I am twenty years old.)
- Literally: “I have twenty years.”
🔢 Numbers are key! If you’re not confident with numbers yet, you’ll want to review them first.
👉 Build your foundation with our Spanish Numbers 1-100 Guide.
Putting It All Together: Sample Dialogues
Informal Conversation (Two Peers):
- Carlos: ¡Hola! ¿Cómo te llamas?
- Laura: Hola, me llamo Laura. Mucho gusto.
- Carlos: Igualmente. Soy Carlos. ¿De dónde eres?
- Laura: Soy de Colombia. Soy colombiana. ¿Y tú?
- Carlos: Soy de España, de Barcelona. ¿Cuántos años tienes?
- Laura: Tengo veintidós años. ¿Y tú?
- Carlos: Tengo veinticuatro.
Formal Conversation (with a Colleague):
- Sra. García: Buenos días, ¿cómo se llama?
- Sr. Méndez: Buenas días, me llamo Roberto Méndez. Encantado.
- Sra. García: Igualmente, señor Méndez. Soy la señora García. ¿De dónde es?
- Sr. Méndez: Soy de México. Vivo en la Ciudad de México.
- Sra. García: ¡Qué bien! Bienvenido.
Quick Reference Chart
| Situation | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Name (Informal) | ¿Cómo te llamas? | Me llamo Sara. |
| Name (Formal) | ¿Cómo se llama? | Mi nombre es David López. |
| Origin | ¿De dónde eres? | Soy de Canadá. / Soy canadiense. |
| Age | ¿Cuántos años tienes? | Tengo treinta años. |
| Location | ¿Dónde vives? | Vivo en un piso en Valencia. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Age Mix-up: Never say “Yo soy veinte.” Always use “Tengo veinte años.”
- Formality: Using “tú” with someone who expects “usted” can be seen as disrespectful. When in doubt, start formal.
- Pronunciation: The double ‘l’ in llamo is pronounced like a ‘y’ in most regions (ya-mo).
Ready to Practice?
Now that you have all the tools, it’s time to test your knowledge and make it stick!
Take our Spanish Introductions Quiz ► to practice these essential phrases and build your confidence.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Spanish Greetings | Spanish Numbers 1-100 ►
