How to Say ‘His Name Is’ in Spanish

Hey guys, ever found yourself in a situation where you need to introduce someone in Spanish, but you’re drawing a blank on how to say “his name is”? Don’t sweat it! Learning to express this simple phrase is super useful, whether you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country or just trying to chat with new amigos. We’re going to dive deep into the most common and natural ways to say “his name is” in Spanish, breaking down the grammar and giving you plenty of examples so you can use it with confidence. Forget those awkward pauses and confusing translations; by the end of this, you’ll be introducing people like a pro!

The Main Players: ‘Su nombre es’ and ‘Se llama’

Alright, let’s get down to business. When you want to say “his name is” in Spanish, you’ll most likely encounter two main phrases: Su nombre es and Se llama . Both are correct and widely used, but they have slightly different nuances and structures that are important to understand. Think of them as two different flavors of the same ice cream – both delicious, but with a unique twist. The first one, Su nombre es , is a more literal translation. Su means “his” or “her” or “their” (we’ll get to that nuance in a sec!), nombre means “name,” and es is the form of the verb “to be” (ser) that we use for permanent characteristics like names. So, literally, it’s “His name is.” It’s perfectly fine and understandable, especially when you’re just starting out. However, in everyday Spanish conversation, you’ll find that Se llama is often the go-to phrase. Se is a reflexive pronoun, and llama comes from the verb llamar , which means “to call.” So, Se llama literally translates to “he calls himself” or “it calls itself.” It might sound a bit odd at first, but trust me, this is how native speakers most commonly introduce names. It’s more idiomatic and flows more naturally in conversation. So, while Su nombre es is like saying “The name of him is…”, Se llama is more like “He is called…” Both get the job done, but Se llama is the one you’ll hear most often, so definitely try to get comfortable with it!

Breaking Down Su nombre es

Let’s take a closer look at Su nombre es . As we touched upon, su can be a bit tricky because it doesn’t just mean “his.” It can also mean “her,” “its,” “your” (formal, usted), or “their.” The context usually makes it clear, but when you’re specifically talking about his name, you might sometimes want to be extra clear. For instance, if you’re talking about a group of people and you want to specify his name, you could say El nombre de él es... (The name of him is…). This is less common for a simple introduction but useful for clarification. So, when you use Su nombre es , remember that the su is a possessive adjective. It agrees in number with the noun it modifies (which is nombre , a singular noun), but its person (his, her, their, your) is determined by the context or sometimes by adding de + pronoun after the noun for emphasis. The verb es here is from ser , the verb used for inherent qualities, identities, and origin – and a person’s name is definitely considered an inherent part of their identity. So, if someone asks you, “¿Cómo se llama el chico?” (What’s the boy’s name?), you could answer, “ Su nombre es Juan.” This is grammatically sound and perfectly understood. It’s a bit more formal than Se llama , and sometimes sounds a little more like written Spanish or when you’re explaining something formally. But hey, if it works for you and you’re understood, that’s the main goal, right? Keep practicing both, and you’ll get a feel for when each one sounds most natural!

Unpacking Se llama

Now, let’s really dig into Se llama . This is the phrase you’ll hear all the time in casual Spanish conversations. Why? Because it’s more dynamic and idiomatic. Remember, llamar means “to call,” and se is a reflexive pronoun. So, Se llama is literally “he calls himself.” When you’re introducing someone, you’re essentially saying how people refer to him. It’s a bit like in English, we might say “He goes by the name of John,” though Se llama is much more concise and common. The structure is pretty straightforward: Se (reflexive pronoun) + llama (third-person singular present tense of llamar ). So, if you meet a guy named Carlos, and you want to tell someone his name, you’d say, “ Se llama Carlos.” It’s smooth, it’s natural, and it’s what you’ll be using most often. Think about it: When you introduce yourself, you say Me llamo... (I call myself…). When you talk about someone else (he, she, you formal), you use Se llama... . It’s consistent! This reflexive construction is super common in Spanish for talking about names, ages, and even what people are wearing. So, getting comfortable with Se llama is key to sounding more like a native speaker. Don’t be afraid to use it; the more you practice, the more natural it will feel. It’s the bread and butter of introducing people in Spanish!

When to Use Which?

So, you’ve got Su nombre es and Se llama . When do you whip out which one? Great question! Think of it like this: Se llama is your everyday, go-to phrase. It’s casual, it’s common, and it’s what you’ll hear most native speakers using in most situations. If you’re chatting with a friend, meeting new people at a party, or even in most informal settings, Se llama is your best bet. It just sounds more natural and less stiff. For example, if you’re at a café and the waiter asks for the name for the reservation, and you want to tell your friend, “His name is Miguel,” you’d say, “ Se llama Miguel.” Easy peasy!

On the other hand, Su nombre es can be used in slightly more formal contexts or when you want to be a bit more emphatic or clear, especially if there might be confusion. Sometimes, it can sound a bit more like you’re stating a fact rather than just casually introducing someone. For instance, if you’re filling out a form and you need to write down someone’s name, you might think of it as “His name is…” and then write it. Or, if you’re in a situation where you need to be very precise, like in a legal or official context, Su nombre es might feel more appropriate. However, even in formal settings, Se llama is often still used and perfectly acceptable. Crucially, Se llama is almost always preferred when directly introducing one person to another. It’s the standard way to say, “This is John,” in the sense of telling someone his name. So, as a general rule of thumb, unless you have a specific reason to be more formal or precise, Se llama is your go-to. It’s the more idiomatic and frequently used expression.

Let’s Talk Pronouns: ‘Su’ vs. ‘El suyo’

Okay, here’s a little grammar nugget that might help clear things up about Su nombre es . We mentioned that su can mean his, her, its, your (formal), or their. This is because su is a possessive adjective, and like other Spanish possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su, nuestro, vuestro, su), it comes before the noun and agrees with the noun in number, not the possessor. So, su nombre could mean “his name,” “her name,” “your name” (formal), or “their name.” How do we make it crystal clear that we mean his name?

One way, as we saw, is to add de él after the noun: Su nombre de él es... This construction emphasizes that it belongs to him . It’s a bit more wordy, but it leaves no room for doubt. So, if you want to say “His name is David,” and you want to be absolutely sure the listener knows it’s his name and not someone else’s, you could say, “ Su nombre de él es David.” This is quite formal and not something you’ll hear every day, but it’s grammatically correct.

Another way to express possession, especially when you want to avoid ambiguity or when the noun is already understood, is to use the possessive pronoun el suyo (or la suya , los suyos , las suyas ). This is similar to saying “his,” “hers,” “yours,” or “theirs” in English when it stands alone or refers back to a noun. For example, if you were discussing two people’s names, and you wanted to refer to the name belonging to the male person, you could say, “El nombre de él es David, y el suyo es Carlos.” Here, el suyo refers back to “el nombre” (the name) belonging to the second person. However, when you are introducing a name, el suyo is generally not used directly before the noun like su is. You won’t typically say, “ El suyo nombre es David.” That sounds incorrect. Stick to su nombre es or Se llama for introductions. The possessive pronouns like el suyo are more for when the possessed item (the name, in this case) is already mentioned or implied, or when you are using it as a subject or object in a sentence where the noun isn’t right next to it.

Putting It All Together: Examples Galore!

Alright, let’s get some practice in! Seeing these phrases in action is the best way to internalize them. Here are some examples of how to say “his name is” in Spanish, using both Su nombre es and Se llama :

• Introducing someone:
  • “¿Este es mi amigo Juan. Se llama Pedro.”
    • (This is my friend Juan. His name is Pedro.) - Notice how Se llama is used here naturally. You’re telling Juan Pedro’s name.
  • “Él es un colega nuevo. Se llama Luis.”
    • (He is a new colleague. His name is Luis.) - Again, the common Se llama .
  • “Te presento a mi hermano. Su nombre es Miguel.”
    • (I introduce you to my brother. His name is Miguel.) - Here, Su nombre es is also perfectly fine, maybe slightly more formal than Se llama .
• Talking about someone else (not direct introduction):
  • “¿Conoces al chico nuevo? Se llama Antonio.”
    • (Do you know the new guy? His name is Antonio.) - Se llama is king here.
  • “Hablé con el doctor. Su nombre es Dr. Ramírez.”
    • (I spoke with the doctor. His name is Dr. Ramírez.) - Su nombre es works well here, stating the doctor’s name.
  • “¿Quién es ese señor? Se llama Javier.”
    • (Who is that gentleman? His name is Javier.) - *Casual and common.
• Clarifying or emphasizing:
  • “No, no se llama Juan. Su nombre es Jorge.”
    • (No, his name isn’t Juan. His name is Jorge.) - Using Su nombre es to correct and state the actual name.
  • “Para que sepas, el nombre de él es Carlos.”
    • (Just so you know, his name is Carlos.) - Using the explicit el nombre de él for absolute clarity.

See? Both work, but Se llama really is the MVP for everyday use. Don’t get too hung up on the differences; the most important thing is to start using them! Listen to how native speakers use them, and you’ll quickly develop an ear for what sounds most natural in different situations. Keep practicing, keep speaking, and ¡buena suerte!

A Note on Gender and Formality

One last thing, guys, before we wrap this up: remember that Spanish has grammatical gender for nouns, and this can sometimes influence how you express things, though not so much with names themselves. When we say Su nombre es , nombre is a masculine noun. So, su modifies nombre . When we use Se llama , the verb llamar is conjugated for the subject, which is the person whose name we are stating. In the third person singular (he/she/you formal), it’s llama . So, whether you’re talking about a man or a woman, you’d still say Se llama .

For example:

• “ Se llama María.”
  • (Her name is María.)
• “ Se llama Carlos.”
  • (His name is Carlos.)

Now, what about formality? We’ve touched on it, but it’s worth reinforcing. Se llama is generally considered neutral to informal. Su nombre es can lean slightly more formal. If you were addressing someone using usted (the formal