Being able to introduce yourself is a very important skill that language learners must acquire. If you plan on visiting Berlin, Vienna, Luxembourg, or any other German-speaking country,  knowing how you say ‘my name is’ in German can make a difference when starting conversations. 

In this blog post, you will be guided through the basics of introductions in the language, ensuring you can start conversations with confidence and make a great first impression. Don’t forget to listen to the podcast while reading the article to master the pronunciation of this phrase!

How do you say ‘my name is’ in German?

After you say ‘hello’ in German, the next step is to start a conversation. Introducing yourself does the trick as it helps establish a connection and show respect and interest in the other person. 

You can say ‘my name is’ in German in three different ways. The most straightforward one is by using the phrase: mein Name ist, followed by your name. For example:

• Mein Name ist Julia. My name is Julia.

The other two ways of saying ‘my name is’ in German are more casual. You can use the phrase Ich heiße I am called or Ich bin I am:

• Ich heiße Mathias. I’m called Mathias.
• Ich bin Maria. I am Maria.

Asking for someone’s name 

Just as important as introducing yourself is asking for the other person’s name. In German, it is important to consider that there is a formal and informal way of doing that.

Let’s check the phrases you can use:

• Wie heißen Sie? What is your name? (formal)
• Wie heißt du? What is your name? (informal)

After that, you can say your name or that you are happy to meet the person, acknowledging their name with the phrase:

• Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen (formal)
• Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen (informal)

Or you can simply say ‘freut mich’.

Introducing yourself: conversation example 

Now you know how to say ‘my name is’ in German, so you should be able to understand what is said in this conversation example. Try to read it and pronounce the words while doing it!

• Guten Tag! Mein Name ist Michael Schmidt.
• Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt. Ich heiße Hans Müller. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
• Freut mich auch, Herr Müller. 
• Es war schön, mit Ihnen zu sprechen, Herr Schmidt. Bis später!
• Ja, bis bald!

You might notice that when addressing someone formally, you should use their title and last name, for example, Herr Schmidt Mr. Schmidt. In informal settings, first names are typically used.

Check the dialogue translation here: 

• Good day! My name is Michael Schmidt.
• Good afternoon, Sr. Schmidt. I’m called Hans Müller. I am glad to meet you.
• I’m pleased too, Mr. Müller. 
• It was nice to talk to you, Mr. Schmidt. See you later!
• Yes, see you soon!

We are sure that you are now able to introduce yourself confidently and make a positive impression in any German-speaking environment. Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to pronunciation and be aware of cultural aspects.

To add more layers to your conversation after introducing yourself, you can ask people about where they are from. We prepared a blog post to talk about it exclusively. So, are you ready to learn how to say where you are from and the name of your country in German? Read now!