Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
¿Cómo te llamas? (What's Your Name?)
Learn to ask and answer someone's name, using 'Me llamo'.
What you'll learn
- Say "Me llamo..." followed by their name in Spanish.
- Identify the Spanish phrase "¿Cómo te llamas?" when spoken.
- Respond to the question "¿Cómo te llamas?" with "Me llamo..." and their name.
- Point to a picture representing "¿Cómo te llamas?" when asked.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate and correctly use formal (usted) and informal (tú) ways of asking for a name.
Accurately respond to the question '¿Cómo te llamas?' using both 'Me llamo...' and 'Mi nombre es...'.
Identify and explain the function of the reflexive pronoun 'te' and 'se' in the context of the verb 'llamarse'.
Construct a simple, two-person dialogue that includes greetings, asking for a name, and stating their own name.
Recognize the grammatical structure of interrogative sentences in Spanish, including the use of inverted question marks (¿).
Ask for a third person's name using '¿Cómo se llama él/ella?'.
Imagine you're meeting a new exchange student from Colombia for the first time....
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
LlamarseA reflexive verb that literally means 'to call oneself'. It is the standard, idiomatic way to express 'to be named' or 'to be called' in Spanish.Yo me llamo Carlos. (My name is Carlos.)
Pronombre Reflexivo (Reflexive Pronoun)A pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that indicates the subject of the verb is also its object. With 'llamarse', it shows that the person is 'calling themself' a name.En la frase '¿Cómo te llamas?', 'te' es el pronombre reflexivo. (In the phrase '¿Cómo te llamas?', 'te' is the reflexive pronoun.)
Tú vs. UstedThe two ways to say 'you' in Spanish. 'Tú' is informal, used with friends, family, and peers. 'Usted' (often abbrev...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
The 'Llamarse' Conjugation Pattern
(Pronombre) + [pronombre reflexivo] + [verbo 'llamar' conjugado]
To state a name, you must include the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. For example, 'yo' pairs with 'me', 'tú' pairs with 'te', and 'él/ella/usted' pairs with 'se'.
Formal vs. Informal Questions
Informal (tú): ¿Cómo te llamas? | Formal (usted): ¿Cómo se llama usted?
The choice between 'te' and 'se' depends entirely on your relationship with the person you are addressing. Using the wrong one can be seen as either disrespectful (too informal) or distant (too formal).
Two Ways to Answer
1. Me llamo [Nombre]. | 2. Mi nombre es [Nombre].
Both are correct and widely...
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Challenging
A new student, Javier, joins a class. The teacher, Sra. López, wants to ask his name. Then, Javier's classmate, Sofia, wants to ask his name. Which sequence of questions is most appropriate for this scenario?
A.Sra. López: ¿Cómo te llamas?; Sofia: ¿Cómo te llamas?
B.Sra. López: ¿Cómo se llama usted?; Sofia: ¿Cómo se llama usted?
C.Sra. López: ¿Cómo te llamas?; Sofia: ¿Cómo se llama usted?
D.Sra. López: ¿Cómo se llama usted?; Sofia: ¿Cómo te llamas?
Challenging
An exchange student is trying to introduce themself to a classmate but makes several errors based on the tutorial's 'Common Pitfalls'. Which of the following sentences correctly identifies and fixes the errors in 'Hola. Yo llamo Anya. ¿Qué es tu nombre?'
A.The student forgot the reflexive pronoun and used a literal translation. It should be: 'Hola. Yo me llamo Anya. ¿Cómo te llamas?'
B.The student used the wrong verb. It should be: 'Hola. Yo soy Anya. ¿Cuál es tu nombre?'
C.The student was too informal. It should be: 'Buenos días. Me llamo Anya. ¿Cómo se llama usted?'
D.The student forgot the subject pronoun. It should be: 'Hola. Me llamo Anya. ¿Qué es tu nombre?'
Challenging
While both 'Me llamo...' and 'Mi nombre es...' are correct, what subtle difference might a native speaker perceive between them in certain contexts?
A.'Me llamo' is used for writing, while 'Mi nombre es' is used for speaking.
B.'Me llamo' is exclusively informal, while 'Mi nombre es' is exclusively formal.
C.'Me llamo' is the common, everyday standard, while 'Mi nombre es' can sound slightly more formal, emphatic, or as if one is clarifying.
D.There is absolutely no difference in meaning, connotation, or usage between the two phrases.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "¿Cómo te llamas? (What's Your Name?)"?
¿Cómo te llamas? (What's Your Name?) is a Grade 9 Spanish lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in ¿Cómo te llamas? (What's Your Name?)?
You'll be able to: Say "Me llamo..." followed by their name in Spanish; Identify the Spanish phrase "¿Cómo te llamas?" when spoken; Respond to the question "¿Cómo te llamas?" with "Me llamo..." and their name.
Is "¿Cómo te llamas? (What's Your Name?)" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with ¿Cómo te llamas? (What's Your Name?)?
This lesson includes 30 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.