What’s Your Name in Spanish? Phrases to Know Someone

Learning how to ask “What’s your name?” in Spanish is a great way to start a friendly conversation. It’s one of the first phrases beginners learn when studying Spanish. Knowing it helps you connect with people easily and show respect for their language. It’s simple, polite, and useful in any situation.

In Spanish, the most common way to ask is “¿Cómo te llamas?” which means “What’s your name?” You can also say “¿Cuál es tu nombre?” for a more formal tone. Both phrases are easy to remember and perfect for daily use. Mastering them helps you sound natural and confident when meeting new people.

¿Cómo te llamas?

• “This means ‘What is your name?’ (informal)”
• “Literal translation: ‘How do you call yourself?'”
• “Used with friends, family, children, and peers”
• “Response: ‘Me llamo [name]’ (My name is…)”
• “Also acceptable: ‘Soy [name]’ (I am…)”
• “‘Te’ is the informal ‘you’ form”
• “‘Llamas’ comes from the verb ‘llamarse’ (to be called)”
• “Pronunciation: KOH-moh teh YAH-mahs”
• “This is one of the first phrases taught in Spanish classes”
• “Used in casual, everyday conversations”
• “Alternative: ‘¿Cómo te llaman?’ (What do they call you?)”
• “Regional variations exist but this is universally understood”
• “Can be shortened to ‘¿Tu nombre?’ in very casual settings”
• “When meeting someone your age or younger, this is appropriate”
• “Shows friendliness and approachability”
• “Common follow-up: ‘¿Y tú?’ (And you?)”
• “Essential phrase for introductions”
• “Used in both Spain and Latin America”
• “Polite but informal tone”
• “Perfect for social gatherings and making new friends”

¿Cuál es tu nombre?

• “This means ‘What is your name?’ (slightly more direct)”
• “Literal translation: ‘Which is your name?'”
• “‘Cuál’ means ‘which’ or ‘what’ (from a selection)”
• “Still informal because of ‘tu’ (your, informal)”
• “Less common than ‘¿Cómo te llamas?’ in everyday speech”
• “Response: ‘Mi nombre es [name]’ (My name is…)”
• “Pronunciation: KWAHL ehs too NOHM-breh”
• “More direct and straightforward approach”
• “Used when asking someone to state their name clearly”
• “Common in forms, registrations, or official but casual settings”
• “The formal version would be ‘¿Cuál es su nombre?'”
• “‘Tu’ vs ‘su’ determines formality level”
• “Both ‘¿Cómo te llamas?’ and this are correct”
• “Regional preferences vary—some areas prefer one over the other”
• “Can sound slightly more businesslike even when informal”
• “Useful when you need clarity or are in a noisy environment”
• “Often used when filling out information”
• “Grammatically interchangeable with ‘¿Cómo te llamas?’ in most contexts”
• “Good for situations requiring precision”
• “Native speakers understand and use both versions”

¿Cuántos años tienes?

• “This means ‘How old are you?’ (informal)”
• “Literal translation: ‘How many years do you have?'”
• “Spanish uses ‘to have’ for age, not ‘to be'”
• “Response: ‘Tengo [number] años’ (I have/am [number] years old)”
• “‘Cuántos’ means ‘how many'”
• “‘Años’ means ‘years'”
• “‘Tienes’ is from ‘tener’ (to have), informal you form”
• “Pronunciation: KWAN-tohs AH-nyohs tee-EH-nehs”
• “Used with friends, peers, children”
• “Formal version: ‘¿Cuántos años tiene?’ or ‘¿Cuántos años tiene usted?'”
• “Common conversation starter, especially with new acquaintances”
• “In some cultures, asking age can be sensitive—read the room”
• “Example response: ‘Tengo veinticinco años’ (I’m 25 years old)”
• “The verb ‘tener’ (to have) is key to expressing age in Spanish”
• “Never say ‘Soy veinticinco años’—this is incorrect”
• “Can also ask: ‘¿Qué edad tienes?’ (What age do you have?)”
• “Children are often asked this question”
• “Follow-up: ‘¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?’ (When is your birthday?)”
• “Important cultural note: age expression differs from English”
• “Essential for basic Spanish conversation skills”

¿De dónde eres?

• “This means ‘Where are you from?’ (informal)”
• “Asking about someone’s origin or hometown”
• “‘De dónde’ means ‘from where'”
• “‘Eres’ is from ‘ser’ (to be), informal you form”
• “Response: ‘Soy de [place]’ (I’m from…)”
• “Pronunciation: deh DOHN-deh EH-rehs”
• “Used to learn about someone’s background”
• “Formal version: ‘¿De dónde es?’ or ‘¿De dónde es usted?'”
• “Common question when meeting new people”
• “Can refer to birth country, city, or current residence depending on context”
• “Example response: ‘Soy de México’ (I’m from Mexico)”
• “Can also say: ‘Soy mexicano/mexicana’ (I’m Mexican)”
• “Follow-up question: ‘¿Dónde vives ahora?’ (Where do you live now?)”
• “Shows interest in someone’s cultural background”
• “Important for building connections and understanding identity”
• “Alternative phrasing: ‘¿De qué país eres?’ (What country are you from?)”
• “Or ‘¿De qué ciudad eres?’ (What city are you from?)”
• “Useful for travelers and international settings”
• “Helps establish common ground in conversations”
• “Essential for basic introductions in Spanish”

¿Tienes hermanos o hermanas?

• “This means ‘Do you have brothers or sisters?’ (informal)”
• “Asking about siblings and family structure”
• “‘Tienes’ is from ‘tener’ (to have)”
• “‘Hermanos’ means brothers (or siblings in general)”
• “‘Hermanas’ means sisters”
• “Pronunciation: tee-EH-nehs ehr-MAH-nohs oh ehr-MAH-nahs”
• “Response: ‘Sí, tengo [number] hermanos’ (Yes, I have [#] siblings)”
• “Or: ‘No, soy hijo único/hija única’ (No, I’m an only child)”
• “‘Hermanos’ can mean both brothers and siblings collectively”
• “To be specific: ‘Tengo dos hermanos y una hermana’ (I have two brothers and one sister)”
• “Formal version: ‘¿Tiene hermanos o hermanas?'”
• “Common question to learn about family background”
• “Can also ask: ‘¿Cuántos hermanos tienes?’ (How many siblings do you have?)”
• “Simplified version: ‘¿Tienes hermanos?’ (covers all siblings)”
• “Family is important in Hispanic culture, making this common conversation”
• “Follow-up: ‘¿Eres el mayor/menor?’ (Are you the oldest/youngest?)”
• “Or: ‘¿Cómo se llaman?’ (What are their names?)”
• “Vocabulary: ‘hermano mayor’ (older brother), ‘hermana menor’ (younger sister)”
• “Shows interest in personal life and family connections”
• “Essential for getting to know someone beyond surface level”

¿Qué te gusta hacer?

• “This means ‘What do you like to do?’ (informal)”
• “Asking about someone’s interests and favorite activities”
• “‘Qué’ means ‘what'”
• “‘Te gusta’ means ‘you like’ (literally: it pleases you)”
• “‘Hacer’ means ‘to do'”
• “Pronunciation: keh teh GOO-stah ah-SEHR”
• “Response: ‘Me gusta [activity]’ (I like to…)”
• “Example: ‘Me gusta leer’ (I like to read)”
• “Or: ‘Me gusta jugar fútbol’ (I like to play soccer)”
• “For multiple things: ‘Me gusta leer y escuchar música’ (I like to read and listen to music)”
• “Formal version: ‘¿Qué le gusta hacer?'”
• “Great conversation starter to find common interests”
• “Common responses: bailar (dance), cocinar (cook), viajar (travel)”
• “Can also say: ‘Me encanta…’ (I love…)”
• “Shows genuine interest in someone’s personality”
• “Follow-up: ‘¿Por qué te gusta?’ (Why do you like it?)”
• “Used in casual social settings and getting-to-know-you conversations”
• “Alternative: ‘¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre?’ (What do you like to do in your free time?)”
• “Helps discover shared hobbies and interests”
• “Essential for building deeper connections beyond basic introductions”
• “Popular activities mentioned: deportes (sports), música (music), películas (movies)”
• “Can lead to invitations: ‘¿Quieres ir conmigo?’ (Want to go with me?)”

¿Cuáles son tus hobbies?

• “This means ‘What are your hobbies?’ (informal)”
• “Direct way to ask about leisure activities and interests”
• “‘Cuáles’ means ‘which ones’ or ‘what’ (plural)”
• “‘Son’ means ‘are'”
• “‘Tus’ means ‘your’ (informal)”
• “‘Hobbies’ is borrowed from English, same pronunciation”
• “Pronunciation: KWAH-lehs sohn toos HOH-bees”
• “Response: ‘Mis hobbies son…’ (My hobbies are…)”
• “Alternative response: ‘Me gusta…’ (I like…)”
• “Can also use Spanish word: ‘pasatiempos’ instead of ‘hobbies'”
• “Full Spanish version: ‘¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?'”
• “Common hobbies: pintar (painting), nadar (swimming), fotografía (photography)”
• “Example: ‘Mis hobbies son leer y tocar guitarra’ (My hobbies are reading and playing guitar)”
• “Formal version: ‘¿Cuáles son sus hobbies?'”
• “More direct than ‘¿Qué te gusta hacer?'”
• “English loanword ‘hobbies’ is widely understood in Spanish-speaking countries”
• “Can list multiple: ‘el fútbol, el cine, y la cocina’ (soccer, movies, and cooking)”
• “Shows interest in how someone spends their leisure time”
• “Common in job interviews, dating, and social introductions”
• “Follow-up: ‘¿Desde cuándo te gusta?’ (Since when have you liked it?)”
• “Helps identify potential friends with similar interests”
• “Can lead to activity invitations and plans”

¿A qué te dedicas?

• “This means ‘What do you do (for a living)?’ (informal)”
• “Asking about someone’s profession or occupation”
• “‘A qué’ means ‘to what'”
• “‘Te dedicas’ is from ‘dedicarse’ (to dedicate oneself)”
• “Literal translation: ‘What do you dedicate yourself to?'”
• “Pronunciation: ah keh teh deh-dee-KAHS”
• “Response: ‘Soy [profession]’ (I’m a…)”
• “Or: ‘Trabajo como [job]’ (I work as…)”
• “Or: ‘Me dedico a [field]’ (I dedicate myself to…)”
• “Example: ‘Soy profesor’ (I’m a teacher)”
• “Or: ‘Trabajo en marketing’ (I work in marketing)”
• “Formal version: ‘¿A qué se dedica?'”
• “More polite than directly asking ‘¿Qué trabajo tienes?'”
• “For students: ‘Estudio [subject]’ (I study…)”
• “Common professions: médico (doctor), ingeniero (engineer), abogado (lawyer)”
• “Can also mean asking about main focus, not just paid work”
• “Alternative: ‘¿En qué trabajas?’ (What do you work in?)”
• “Or: ‘¿Cuál es tu profesión?’ (What is your profession?)”
• “Standard question in professional networking”
• “Shows interest in someone’s career path”
• “Follow-up: ‘¿Te gusta tu trabajo?’ (Do you like your job?)”
• “Or: ‘¿Hace cuánto tiempo?’ (For how long?)”
• “Important for understanding someone’s daily life and responsibilities”

¿Qué haces?

• “This means ‘What do you do?’ or ‘What are you doing?’ (informal)”
• “Can ask about current activity OR general occupation, context-dependent”
• “‘Qué’ means ‘what'”
• “‘Haces’ is from ‘hacer’ (to do), informal you form”
• “Pronunciation: keh AH-sehs”
• “Present tense interpretation: ‘What are you doing right now?'”
• “Response: ‘Estoy [activity]’ (I’m…)”
• “Example: ‘Estoy estudiando’ (I’m studying)”
• “General occupation interpretation: ‘What do you do (for work)?'”
• “Response: ‘Trabajo en…’ (I work in…)”
• “Formal version: ‘¿Qué hace?'”
• “Very common, versatile question”
• “Can mean: What’s your job, what are you up to, what do you study”
• “Context determines exact meaning”
• “Casual greeting alternative: similar to ‘What’s up?'”
• “More specific than ‘¿Qué tal?'”
• “Can be used when you call/text someone: ‘¿Qué haces?'”
• “Response for free time: ‘Nada, viendo tele’ (Nothing, watching TV)”
• “Short and versatile—one of most useful phrases”
• “Follow-up depends on context and response”
• “Can initiate plans: ‘¿Qué haces esta noche?’ (What are you doing tonight?)”
• “Used throughout the day in various situations”

¿Qué tal?

• “This means ‘How’s it going?’ or ‘What’s up?’ (informal)”
• “One of the most common casual greetings in Spanish”
• “‘Qué’ means ‘what'”
• “‘Tal’ means ‘such’ but together they form a greeting”
• “Literal translation doesn’t capture full meaning—it’s idiomatic”
• “Pronunciation: keh TAHL”
• “Response: ‘Bien, ¿y tú?’ (Good, and you?)”
• “Or: ‘Todo bien’ (All good)”
• “Or: ‘Más o menos’ (So-so)”
• “Or: ‘Muy bien, gracias’ (Very well, thanks)”
• “Formal version: ‘¿Qué tal?’ works in both formal and informal contexts”
• “Can also be: ‘¿Cómo estás?’ (How are you?)”
• “More casual than ‘¿Cómo estás?’ in some regions”
• “Used as greeting when seeing someone or starting conversation”
• “Can be combined: ‘¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?’ (Hello! How’s it going?)”
• “Universally understood across Spanish-speaking countries”
• “Perfect for text messages, phone calls, in-person meetings”
• “Shows friendliness and interest in someone’s wellbeing”
• “Can also ask about specific things: ‘¿Qué tal el trabajo?’ (How’s work?)”
• “Or: ‘¿Qué tal tu día?’ (How’s your day?)”
• “Very versatile—adapts to many situations”
• “Appropriate for acquaintances, friends, even strangers in casual settings”
• “Follow-up naturally leads to conversation topics”
• “One of the first phrases beginners should learn”
• “Can be shortened in very casual speech to just ‘¿Tal?'”
• “Regional variations exist but core meaning remains constant”
• “Often paired with body language: smile, wave, friendly tone”
• “Essential for daily Spanish communication”
• “Creates warm, approachable atmosphere in conversations”
• “Can be used multiple times throughout the day with same person”

Frequently Asked Question

How do you say “What’s your name” in Spanish?

You say “¿Cómo te llamas?” which means “What’s your name?” in Spanish.

What is the formal way to ask someone’s name in Spanish?

Use “¿Cómo se llama usted?” when speaking politely or formally.

How do you reply to “¿Cómo te llamas?” in Spanish?

You can reply, “Me llamo [your name],” which means “My name is [your name].”

What does “¿Cuál es tu nombre?” mean in English?

It means “What is your name?” and is another way to ask politely.

Is “¿Cómo te llamas?” used in Spain and Latin America?

Yes, it’s commonly used in both Spain and Latin American countries.

How do kids say “What’s your name” in Spanish?

Kids usually say “¿Cómo te llamas?” in a friendly and casual tone.

Can I say “Tu nombre?” to ask someone’s name?

Yes, but it’s very informal. It’s better to say “¿Cuál es tu nombre?”

What’s the difference between “¿Cómo te llamas?” and “¿Cuál es tu nombre?”

Both mean the same, but “¿Cómo te llamas?” sounds more natural in conversation.

How do you introduce yourself after asking someone’s name?

Say “Me llamo [your name]. ¿Y tú?” which means “My name is [your name]. And you?”

Why should I learn “What’s your name” in Spanish?

It’s a polite and friendly way to start conversations and make new friends.

Conclusion

Learning how to say “What’s your name?” in Spanish is a simple but powerful skill. It helps you connect with people in a friendly and respectful way. Whether you’re traveling, studying, or chatting online, this phrase makes a great first impression. It shows interest and kindness toward others.

Using phrases like “¿Cómo te llamas?” or “¿Cuál es tu nombre?” helps you sound natural and confident. They open the door to meaningful conversations and new friendships. With just a few words, you can start speaking like a native. So, practice often and enjoy learning this beautiful language.