How to Say My Name Is in Italian: Your Complete Guide
In this episode of The ItalianChat Experience, Sofia and I break down everything you need to confidently say “my name is” in Italian and introduce yourself, from pronunciation to casual vs. formal versions to a complete meeting-someone scenario you can use immediately.
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Plus: the full written guide with pronunciation table and every phrase from the episode.
How to Say My Name Is in Italian: Mi Chiamo
The standard way to say “my name is” in Italian is mi chiamo (mee kee-AH-moh). It literally means “I call myself” — so when you say “Mi chiamo Max,” you’re saying “I call myself Max.”
The big pronunciation trap here is the “ch” in chiamo. In English, “ch” makes a soft sound like in “cheese.” In Italian, “chi” makes a hard K sound — like the English word “key.” So it’s kee-AH-moh, not chee-AH-moh. Get this right and you’ll sound natural from your very first introduction.
How to Ask Someone’s Name in Italian
You’ve introduced yourself — now you want to know their name. You have two options depending on the situation:
Come ti chiami? (KOH-meh tee kee-AH-mee) — “What’s your name?” This is the casual version. Use it with people your age, younger, or anyone in a relaxed setting. Literally means “What do you call yourself?”
Come si chiama? (KOH-meh see kee-AH-mah) — “What is your name?” This is the formal version. Use it with strangers you want to show respect to, older people, or in professional settings. The only difference is “ti” (casual you) becomes “si” (formal you).
When in doubt, go formal with “come si chiama” — it’s always safe and never wrong.
Suggested Read: Top 400 Italian First Names with English Meanings
How to Say Nice to Meet You: Piacere
Piacere (pee-ah-CHEH-reh) means “pleasure” — as in “it’s a pleasure to meet you.” One word and you’ve completed the Italian greeting. Italians say this the moment names are exchanged, often with a handshake or a warm smile.
Want to be extra warm? Say molto piacere (MOHL-toh pee-ah-CHEH-reh) — “great pleasure.” It adds a layer of genuine warmth that Italians appreciate.
The Simpler Alternative: Sono + Your Name
Here’s a shortcut most learners don’t know about: you can also just say sono (SOH-noh) followed by your name. “Sono Max” — literally “I am Max.” It’s totally natural, Italians use it all the time, and it’s especially common in casual situations.
So you have two perfectly correct options: “Mi chiamo Max” (a bit more formal and complete) or “Sono Max” (quick and easy). Use whichever feels right in the moment.
How It Sounds in Real Life
In the episode, Sofia and I act out a complete introduction at a bar in Florence. Here’s how the whole thing flows:
Sofia: “Ciao! Come ti chiami?” (Hi! What’s your name?)
Max: “Mi chiamo Max! E tu, come ti chiami?” (My name is Max! And you, what’s your name?)
Sofia: “Mi chiamo Sofia! Piacere, Max!” (My name is Sofia! Nice to meet you, Max!)
Max: “Piacere, Sofia!” (Nice to meet you, Sofia!)
Five seconds. A real connection. That’s all it takes.
Quick Reference: Italian Introduction Phrases
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi chiamo | mee kee-AH-moh | My name is | Any situation — standard introduction |
| Sono + name | SOH-noh | I am + name | Casual situations — quick and easy |
| Come ti chiami? | KOH-meh tee kee-AH-mee | What’s your name? (casual) | Friends, peers, relaxed settings |
| Come si chiama? | KOH-meh see kee-AH-mah | What’s your name? (formal) | Strangers, older people, professional |
| Piacere | pee-ah-CHEH-reh | Nice to meet you / Pleasure | After exchanging names |
| Molto piacere | MOHL-toh pee-ah-CHEH-reh | Great pleasure to meet you | When you want to be extra warm |
| E tu? | eh TOO | And you? | Asking their name back (casual) |
Practice These Phrases Out Loud
Introductions are one of those things you want to get right the first time — because there’s no second chance at a first impression. If you want guided speaking practice where someone models the Italian first, gives you feedback, and helps you respond out loud — that’s exactly what Sofia Voice Coach does inside ItalianChat.
Sofia leads the conversation so you never freeze. She speaks first, you repeat, and she keeps you moving forward.
Full Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] Max: Ciao, Italian language learners. Welcome to another exciting episode of the Italian Chat Experience. I’m Max, your host, here with our Italian voice coach, Sofia. Are you ready for some Italian today, Sofia?
[00:00:21] Sofia: Ciao, Max. Always ready for some Italian. What’s on the agenda for today’s episode?
[00:00:27] Max: Today we’re covering the very first thing you’ll say when you meet someone new in Italy. Before grazie — thank you. Before per favore — please. This is the phrase that starts every relationship. We’re learning how to say “my name is” in Italian. So Sofia, how do you say “my name is” in Italian?
[00:00:52] Sofia: It’s mi chiamo. Mi chiamo. It literally means “I call myself.” So you’d say: mi chiamo Sofia. My name is Sofia.
[00:01:02] Max: Now, the tricky part here is that K sound in chiamo. It doesn’t sound like the English “ch” — like in “cheese” — does it?
[00:01:12] Sofia: No, not at all. In Italian, “chi” makes a “kee” sound. So chiamo is kee-AH-moh, not chee-AH-moh. Think of it like the word “key” — that’s the sound you want. Mi chiamo.
[00:01:25] Max: So I’ve introduced myself. Now I want to ask someone their name. How do I do that?
[00:01:31] Sofia: Come ti chiami? Come ti chiami? It means “What’s your name?” — literally “What do you call yourself?” This is the casual version, for people your age or younger.
[00:01:43] Max: And if I’m being more formal? Like talking to someone older, or in a professional situation?
[00:01:50] Sofia: Come si chiama? Come si chiama? Same meaning — “What is your name?” — but formal. You’d use this with a stranger you want to show respect to, or in any professional setting. The difference is just “ti” becomes “si.”
[00:02:03] Max: What about after you exchange names? In English we’d say “nice to meet you.” What’s that in Italian?
[00:02:14] Sofia: Piacere! Piacere. It means “pleasure” — as in, “it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Just one word and you’ve nailed the Italian greeting. You can also say “molto piacere” — “great pleasure” — if you want to be extra warm.
[00:02:26] Max: Let’s put the whole thing together. I just met someone at a bar in Florence. Sofia, you be the person I’m meeting. Let’s do this.
[00:02:33] Sofia: Ciao! Come ti chiami?
[00:02:35] Max: Mi chiamo Max! E tu, come ti chiami?
[00:02:38] Sofia: Mi chiamo Sofia! Piacere, Max!
[00:02:41] Max: Piacere, Sofia! See how smooth that was? Five seconds and you’ve made a real connection. One more thing — is there another way to say “my name is” that’s a little simpler? I’ve heard people just say “sono” and then their name.
[00:03:01] Sofia: Yes! “Sono Max” — literally “I am Max.” It’s totally natural and Italians use it all the time, especially in casual situations. So you have two options: “Mi chiamo Max” — a bit more formal and complete — or just “Sono Max” — quick and easy. Both are perfectly correct.
[00:03:21] Max: That’s wonderful. To wrap up, today we practiced mi chiamo for “my name is,” come ti chiami for asking someone’s name casually, come si chiama for the formal version, and piacere for “nice to meet you.” With just these phrases, you can introduce yourself to anyone in Italy. Grazie for listening! Visit LearnItalianPod.com for more resources and to explore ItalianChat, where you can practice real Italian conversations with Sofia. A presto!
[00:03:50] Sofia: A presto! Ciao a tutti!
