How to ask someone their name & say "my name is" in Italian in 50 useful ways

Introducing yourself in your native language is so easy and simple that you do it naturally, almost automatically. Wouldn’t it be awesome to feel the same in Italian?

Knowing what to say when you meet new people, and how to confidently introduce yourself in different contexts has many advantages. It will help you make a great first impression, break the ice, and set the right tone for the rest of the conversation.

We want to help you get clarity and confidence when introducing yourself and other people in Italian. In this article, we’ll teach you all the words and phrases you need to ask someone their name and introduce yourself gracefully in both business and social situations, even if you’re just starting to learn Italian.

Ready to boost your Italian-speaking skills? Let’s get started!

How to introduce yourself in Italian

Are you stuck when you have to introduce yourself to somebody in Italian? Introductions will always be kind of awkward if you don’t know what to say. Don’t get caught unprepared.

Are you curious to know how to say “My name is” in Italian? The most common way to say “Hello, my name is” in Italian is “Buongiorno, mi chiamo…” and then say your name loudly and clearly. Mumbling it defeats the purpose of the introduction.

Read on for a quick and easy guide on how to start a proper self-introduction in Italian, and get ready for the next time you meet somebody new!

What is your name in Italian

To ask somebody “What’s your name?” in Italian, you can use “Come ti chiami?”. Easy, right? This is considered informal language, and literally translates to, “What do you call yourself?”.

The formal version of this question is “Come si chiama?”, and you should use it with people older than you, and in formal and professional contexts. Be sure to use the correct Italian pronoun.

My name is in Italian

There are two simple ways to introduce yourself to somebody in Italian. The most natural response to “What’s your name?” is “Mi chiamo…”, which literally translates as, “I call myself…”. You could also simply say “Sono…”(I am…), and then state your name. A typical follow-up question that you should use after saying your name is “E tu?”, and you?

To say what your name is in Italian you can also use other sentence patterns. Take some time to have a look at them, and grow your Italian vocabulary!

How to introduce yourself in response

Quite often, English-speaking Italian learners learn to introduce themselves to somebody in a way that sounds unnatural. We’re coming to the rescue with a list of the most common and natural phrases and expressions to introduce yourself in response in the table below. Take a look!

His/her name is in Italian

Do you avoid introducing people to each other because you don’t know what to say? It can be painfully awkward, we’ve all been there.

Knowing how to introduce other people in both professional and social settings is an important skill that you should not overlook. Everyone can benefit from learning the proper way to make an introduction.

We want you to be 100% ready to go, and feeling confident in your Italian abilities. Check out the table below to find lots of examples!

How to introduce yourself formally in Italian

Showing the proper respect is crucial with first meetings, so use formal Lei until you develop a closer relationship with the other person. As you surely know, formal Lei is to be used in formal contexts, like a business conference, a job interview, a meeting, a networking event, or a formal gathering, while informal tu is used with peers your age in an informal situation, like a casual party.

If in doubt, use formal Lei and wait for the other person to give you express permission to use informal tu with the expression “Diamoci pure del tu,” which means “Shall we use the informal with each other?”.

In formal situations, it’s best to use first and last names.

How to end an introduction in Italian

Are you not sure how to end your first conversation with someone you’ve just met? Below you'll find lots of useful, positive statements to help you do this in different contexts. Check them out!

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Learning how to introduce yourself in Italian is definitely the very first skill that you’ll need in order to master that important first impression and to make new Italian friends. We've put together some real life examples to help you on your way. Let's go!

7 etiquette tips for making introductions

We all know that first impressions are important to Italians, but you may not know just how little time you have to actually make one. Well, it takes as little as one-tenth of a second for a person to form an impression of who you are. Really, a blink of the eye is all it takes to make judgments about a person’s likability, trustworthiness, and competence.

We only get one chance to make a great first impression, and this definitely puts pressure on us every time we need to introduce ourselves to somebody new.

The good news is that Italian etiquette rules are coming to the rescue! So, follow our tips to make a good impression when you meet somebody new, and avoid awkward moments.

1. Stand up when you meet someone

If you’re sitting down and someone approaches to meet you, stand up to greet them. Remember to use the appropriate greeting for the occasion and the time of day.

2. Shake hands

Give the person you’re meeting a brief, firm handshake with a welcoming smile and direct eye contact. Etiquette has it that your hand shake is always right hand to right hand, and that you should only shake for 1 to 2 seconds at most.

3. Smile

Smiling is a friendly way to connect with someone you are meeting for the very first time. It makes people feel welcome and immediately puts them at ease.

4. Make proper eye contact

Italians give paramount importance to eye contact. So, smile and maintain eye contact when introducing yourself to someone. In the Bel Paese, good eye contact expresses self-confidence, trust, and a mutual connection between two people.

5. Say something pleasant

It’s polite to say something pleasant after you learn the name of the person you are meeting. As mentioned previously, a simple “Piacere di conoscerti” works like a charm to break the ice.

6. Keep your introductions simple, clear, and short

The best advice I can give you is to keep your introductions short, simple, clear and light, and give the other person room for follow-up questions. Find an appropriate balance between speaking and listening. Share a couple relevant details about yourself, such as where you’re from and what you do for a living, but keep it simple.

7. Introduce younger people to older people first

In both formal and informal contexts, you should always introduce the younger person to the older person first, and junior-ranking professionals to senior-ranking professionals.

È stato un piacere!

And that’s it! You’ve learned how to introduce yourself in Italian like a local in different scenarios.

Knowing how to start a proper self-introduction in different contexts is an important step in your Italian learning journey. Now that you have a nice little base to start, get out there, find someone to talk to, and practice as much as you can until you get the hang of it!

If you enjoyed this article, check out our library of fun and free Italian vocabulary lessons!

Till next time!