To say my name is in Italian, use Mi chiamo (mee KYAH-moh): Mi chiamo Emma. It literally means "I call myself". In conversation Sono Emma (I'm Emma) is just as natural, while Il mio nome è Emma is correct but stiff. To ask, say Come ti chiami? to a peer or Come si chiama? to someone you call Lei.
- My name is…
- Mi chiamo…
- I'm…
- Sono…
- What's your name? (tu)
- Come ti chiami?
- What's your name? (Lei)
- Come si chiama?
- Level
- A1
Mi chiamo, sono or il mio nome è?
All three are correct. Mi chiamo is the one textbooks start with and natives use everywhere; sono is shorter and is what you say on the phone or at someone's door.
| Italian | English | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Mi chiamo Emma. | My name is Emma. | Any situation |
| Sono Emma. | I'm Emma. | Conversation, the phone, the door |
| Io sono Emma, e tu? | I'm Emma, and you? | Friendly, informal |
| Mi chiamo Emma Rossi. | My name is Emma Rossi. | Full name; first name first |
| Il mio nome è Emma. | My name is Emma. | Correct but formal; speeches, forms |
| Il mio cognome è Rossi. | My surname is Rossi. | Bookings, offices, the doctor's |
Chiamarsi is a reflexive verb, so the little pronoun changes with the person: mi chiamo, ti chiami, si chiama, ci chiamiamo, vi chiamate, si chiamano. Italian ch is always a hard k, so chiamo begins like the English "key".
Sono on its own works perfectly well, as a new household robot in Milan shows the moment it is switched on in a Contos A1 comedy:
Ciao! Sono RINA. Sono qui per aiutare.How do you ask someone's name in Italian?
The question uses come (how), not cosa (what): Italians ask how you call yourself. Pick the verb form that matches tu, Lei or a group.
Come ti chiami?
What's your name?
tu: children, friends, people your age
Come si chiama?
What's your name?
Lei: strangers, older people, staff
E Lei come si chiama?
And what's your name?
Adding Lei makes clear you mean the listener.
Come vi chiamate?
What are your names?
Two or more people
Scusi, come si scrive?
Sorry, how do you spell it?
Nome e cognome, per favore.
First name and surname, please.
What you hear at a desk or a booking.
Si chiama also means his or her name is, which is how you will meet it in stories. A graphic designer in Milan is introduced this way in a Contos A1 romcom:
Ha un migliore amico che si chiama Marco Colombo.What mistakes do learners make with mi chiamo?
- Mi chiamo è Emma. Never add è: chiamo is already the verb. Either mi chiamo Emma or il mio nome è Emma.
- Chiamo Emma. Without mi, it means "I'm calling Emma", as in phoning her.
- Sono chiamato Marco. A word-for-word "I am called" that Italians do not use for names.
- Cosa ti chiami? The question word is come.
- chee-AH-moh. The ch is a k sound: KYAH-moh.
After the names comes the handshake and Piacere!; see how to say nice to meet you in Italian. If you miss the other person's name, ask them to repeat it.
Meet RINA and the Rossi family in Mamma Robot, an A1 Italian story you can read free in your browser.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you say his name is or her name is in Italian?
Si chiama: si chiama Marco, si chiama Giulia. It is the same form as the formal "your name is", so context tells you which one is meant.
What does come ti chiami literally mean?
"How do you call yourself?" Come means how, ti is yourself and chiami is you call. That is why the answer is mi chiamo, "I call myself".
How do you give your name in an Italian email?
Open with the greeting, then Mi chiamo Emma Rossi e Le scrivo per… (my name is Emma Rossi and I am writing to you about…). Le is the formal "to you".
Do Italians put the surname first?
Not when introducing themselves: Mi chiamo Emma Rossi, first name then surname. Official lists, school registers and some forms put the surname first, so you may see Rossi Emma on paperwork.