The short version
- In Spain, a casual introduction is usually just Soy and your name, then encantado or encantada.
- Add one detail that gives the other person something to ask about, then ask them something back.
- Prepare three versions: a five-second one, a thirty-second one and a longer one for when someone's really interested.
If you've ever had to introduce yourself in Spanish in a class, it probably went like this: Me llamo Sarah. Tengo treinta y cinco años. Soy de Leeds. It's correct, and it's a fine place to start. The trouble is that it sounds like you're filling in a form, and once you've said it, there's nothing left.
That's what happened to me in my first few weeks in Spain. I could say who I was. Then the other person would smile, say something back, and I'd have nothing to add.
A good introduction does two jobs. It tells people who you are, and it gives them something to ask about. This post covers both.
The basics, the way people say them in Spain
You'll hear Me llamo… and it's never wrong. But in a normal, relaxed introduction, most people in Spain just say Soy…. It's shorter and it sounds more natural.
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hola, soy Sarah. | Hi, I'm Sarah. | The usual casual way |
| Me llamo Sarah. | My name is Sarah. | Fine, a bit more formal |
| Encantado. / Encantada. | Nice to meet you. | Men say encantado, women say encantada |
| Igualmente. | You too. | The standard reply |
| ¿Y tú, cómo te llamas? | And what's your name? | If they didn't say |
| Perdona, ¿cómo has dicho? | Sorry, what did you say? | When you didn't catch the name |
Mucho gusto also means "nice to meet you". You'll hear it in Spain, but encantado or encantada is more common here, especially in casual situations.
That last line in the table is worth learning properly. Spanish names often go past quickly, and asking again is completely normal. Much better than spending the next hour avoiding using their name.
In Spain, people usually greet with two kisses on the cheek when they're introduced, one on each side. It's normal between women and between a man and a woman. Men usually shake hands with other men. In work situations a handshake is more common. If you're not sure, follow the other person's lead.
Say a bit more than your name
After the name, most introductions in Spain move quickly to three things: where you're from, what you're doing here and what you do. You don't need all three every time. One or two is enough.
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Soy de… | I'm from… | Soy de Leeds, en el norte de Inglaterra. |
| Vivo en… | I live in… | Vivo en Málaga, en el centro. |
| Llevo… aquí. | I've been here for… | Llevo dos años aquí. |
| Trabajo en… / Trabajo de… | I work at… / I work as… | Trabajo de enfermera. |
| Me dedico a… | I do… (for a living) | Me dedico al diseño gráfico. |
| Estoy aprendiendo español. | I'm learning Spanish. | Estoy aprendiendo español, así que ten paciencia. |
Llevo dos años aquí is a very Spanish way of saying how long you've been somewhere. You'll be asked this a lot, so it's worth getting smooth. For your job, there's a whole post on how to talk about your job in Spanish.
Here's how the pieces go together, one bit at a time:
- Soy Sarah.I'm Sarah.
- Soy Sarah, soy inglesa.I'm Sarah, I'm English.
- Soy Sarah, soy inglesa, pero llevo dos años viviendo en Málaga.I'm Sarah, I'm English, but I've been living in Málaga for two years.
- Soy Sarah, soy inglesa, pero llevo dos años viviendo en Málaga. Vine por trabajo y me quedé.I'm Sarah, I'm English, but I've been living in Málaga for two years. I came for work and stayed.
Add a hook
This is the part most textbook introductions miss. A hook is one small detail that makes people want to ask a question. Your age doesn't do that. Vine por trabajo y me quedé does. So does Vine a pasar un verano y ya llevo cuatro años.
| Hook | What they'll probably ask |
|---|---|
| Vine por trabajo y me quedé. | ¿Y qué te hizo quedarte? (What made you stay?) |
| Mi pareja es de aquí. | ¿Ah, sí? ¿Y cómo os conocisteis? (Oh really? And how did you meet?) |
| Antes vivía en Londres. | ¿Y qué prefieres? (And which do you prefer?) |
| Tengo un perro que es un desastre. | ¿Sí? ¿Qué hace? (Yeah? What does he do?) |
| Estoy aprendiendo a hacer paella. | ¿Y qué tal te sale? (And how's it turning out?) |
Pick a hook you're happy to talk about for a few minutes, because you'll be asked about it. The good news is that you can prepare that conversation in advance. If your hook is your dog, you already know where it's going.
Choose one hook from your own life. Write down the question people are most likely to ask about it, then two more after that. Answer all three out loud every day for a week. The first time someone bites, you'll have a short conversation ready instead of a one-line introduction.
Ask something back
An introduction only becomes a conversation when it goes both ways. After you've said your bit, hand it over.
- ¿Y tú? (And you?) is the simplest and works almost every time.
- ¿Tú eres de aquí? (Are you from here?)
- ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do?)
- ¿De qué conoces a Marta? (How do you know Marta?) This one is perfect at parties.
- ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas aquí? (How long have you been here?)
People in Spain will often ask you ¿Y qué te ha traído a España? (So what brought you to Spain?). Have a short answer ready, because it comes up a lot.
Here's how a full introduction might sound at a friend's birthday:
Have three versions ready
Not every introduction is the same length. Meeting someone in a queue is not the same as sitting next to them at a long lunch. It helps to have three versions prepared.
| Version | When you'd use it | What goes in |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seconds | Passing someone, a quick hello at work | Name, plus encantado / encantada |
| 30 seconds | A party, a class, meeting a friend's friend | Name, where you're from, one hook, a question back |
| 2 minutes | Someone's interested and asking questions | The hook story, why you're here, what you do, what you like |
The two-minute version doesn't need to be a speech. It's really just the answers to the questions people ask after the thirty-second one. If you've prepared your hook, you've done most of it already.
Say your thirty-second introduction into your phone's voice recorder and listen back. Check two things: did you stop in the middle anywhere, and did you end with a question? Do it again the next day. Keep the recording from day one and compare it at the end of the week.
Common mistakes
Giving your age straight after your name. People in Spain rarely do this with adults they've just met.
Skip it. Say where you're from or what you do instead.
Saying Soy 35 años.
Tengo 35 años. Age uses tener.
Stopping after your own introduction.
Always finish with ¿Y tú? or another question.
Men saying encantada because it's the version they learnt.
Men say encantado, women say encantada.
Saying Estoy de Inglaterra.
Soy de Inglaterra. Where you're from uses ser.
Once the introductions are done, the next step is keeping things going. There's more on that in how to keep a conversation going in Spanish, and if you're the one who has to start, see Spanish conversation starters that actually work.
Recap
- Use Soy… for a casual introduction, and encantado or encantada.
- Add where you're from, what you're doing here or what you do.
- Include one hook that gives people something to ask about.
- Always ask something back.
- Keep a five-second, thirty-second and two-minute version ready.
Introducing yourself is one of the conversations in 100 Spanish Conversations, with the words, structures and practice to get your own version smooth. When your thirty-second introduction is ready, post a recording in the Skool community and say hello to everyone.
Leeroy studied Spanish for years before moving to Spain and finding he couldn't hold a conversation. He built Basically Spanish around the method that fixed it. Questions? leeroy@basicallyspanish.com