Introducing Yourself in Spanish is very easy and convenient. When learning Spanish, one of the fundamental skills is being able to introduce yourself and ask others for their personal information.
In this article from Spanish NOW EDU, we’ll walk you through the essentials of personal introductions in Spanish. Designed especially for English speakers, this guide covers everything you need to know to share and ask for basic personal information—including your name, age, profession, nationality, and more.
Whether you’re traveling, taking a Spanish class, or chatting with a native speaker online, knowing how to talk about yourself builds confidence and creates meaningful connections.
Along the way, you’ll pick up key phrases, helpful tips on sentence structure, and cultural notes to make your introductions sound natural and friendly.
Ready to take the first step in speaking Spanish with ease? ¡Empecemos!
4 Common Ways to Introduce Yourself in Spanish
When you’re meeting someone new, knowing how to introduce yourself is one of the most essential skills you can develop. Whether it’s in a classroom, at work, or while traveling, these simple structures will help you start Spanish conversations with ease and confidence.
Saying Your Name
Start by sharing your name. Spanish offers several natural ways to do this, depending on the level of formality and personal style. For example:
- Mi nombre es Peter – My name is Peter
- Me llamo Peter – I’m called Peter
- Soy Peter – I’m Peter
You might also hear a more casual or polite version in introductions, especially when shaking hands or meeting someone for the first time:
- Peter, un placer – Peter, a pleasure (to meet you)
Any of these is commonly used and perfectly acceptable. You can choose the one that feels right for the situation.
Talking About Your Age
In Spanish, age is something that you have , not something that you are. That’s why age is expressed with the verb “tener” (to have), not “ser” or “estar”. This is something that English speakers might find difficult to get at first sight, but it is the right way to express age in Spanish. So instead of saying “I am 25 years old,” you would say:
- Tengo 25 años – I am 25 years old
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? – How old are you?
This is one of the most important patterns to remember when sharing personal information, as it differs significantly from English grammar.
Sharing Your Profession
To tell someone what you do for a living, you’ll use the verb “ser” (to be), followed by your profession, and without an article (“a” or “an”). Take these examples:
- Él es maestro – He is a teacher
- Ella es ingeniera – She is an engineer
- Vosotros sois gerentes – You are managers
If you want to ask someone what they do for a living, you could ask:
- ¿A qué te dedicas? – What do you do for a living?
This form works for students, professionals, and even retirees. Just plug in your occupation to personalize it.
Stating Your Nationality or Origin
Ser is also used to express where you’re from or what your nationality is. You can give a short answer using an adjective of nationality. On the other hand, you could be more specific by mentioning your country of birth. Take these examples:
- Soy estadounidense – I’m American
- Ella es de los Estados Unidos – She’s from The United States
Asking for Personal Information in Spanish
Once you’ve introduced yourself, it’s natural to want to learn more about the other person. Asking for personal information in Spanish is simple and conversational, and these common questions will help you build meaningful interactions while practicing real-life vocabulary and grammar.
Whether you’re talking to a friend, meeting a classmate, or having your first exchange with a native speaker, these questions are key to getting to know someone in Spanish. Let’s dive into it:
Asking for Someone’s Name
There are two common ways to ask someone’s name in Spanish. Both of them are widely understood:
- ¿Cómo te llamas? – What is your name?
- ¿Cuál es tu nombre? – What is your name? (slightly more formal or neutral)
- ¿Cuales son sus nombres? – What are your names?
While “¿Cómo te llamas?” is more frequently used in casual conversations, both forms are correct and useful depending on the context.
Asking for Someone’s Age
As we stated before, in Spanish, you don’t “be” a certain age, you “have” a number of years. That’s why the verb tener is used when asking or stating someone’s age. So, if you want to ask someone age you could say:
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? – How old are you?
- ¿Cuántos años tiene él? – How old is he?
- ¿Qué edad tiene tu hijo? – How old is your son?
This is an important phrase to know early on, as it’s commonly used in informal conversations or when filling out forms.
Asking About Profession
To ask someone what they do for a living, you can use a few different expressions depending on how casual or formal you want to be. Here are some examples:
- ¿A qué te dedicas? – What do you do for a living?
- ¿En qué trabajas? – What kind of work do you do?
- ¿Cuál es tu profesión? – What is your profession? (more formal)
This type of question is useful not only in professional contexts, but also when making small talk at social events or with new acquaintances.
Asking About Nationality or Origin
If you want to find out where someone is from, there are two easy ways to phrase it in Spanish:
- ¿De dónde eres? – Where are you from?
- ¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad? – What is your nationality?
“¿De dónde eres?” is far more common in everyday conversation and is a friendly way to start talking about culture, travel, or background.
Introducing Yourself . Practice Dialogues
Engaging in simple dialogues can enhance understanding and retention. Here are a few practice dialogues:
Introduce me in Spanish
- Person A : Hola, ¿cómo te llamas?
- Person B: Me llamo Ana. ¿Y tú?
- Person A: Me llamo Carlos.
Age in Spanish
- Person A: ¿Cuántos años tienes?
- Person B: Tengo 30 años. ¿Y tú?
- Person A: Tengo 25 años.
Professions and Occupations
- Person A: ¿A qué te dedicas?
- Person B: Soy ingeniero. ¿Y tú?
- Person A: Soy enfermera.
Asking about Nationality
- Person A: ¿De dónde eres?
- Person B: Soy de Canadá. ¿Y tú?
- Person A: Soy de México.
Introducing yourself in Spanish VIDEO
Check out this video of Spanish NOW EDU
Learning how to introduce yourself and ask for personal information in Spanish is a vital step in becoming conversational. Practice these basic structures and dialogues to build your confidence in everyday interactions.
Other resources
Practice vocabulary and listening skills for this topic on our exercise: Listening Practice: Common Spanish Greetings
Learning how to ask and answer personal questions is a core part of becoming conversational in Spanish. These simple structures are incredibly useful in real life and can help you connect with native speakers more easily.
Practice them regularly and try using them in real or simulated conversations. With just a few phrases, you’ll be ready to start conversations with confidence—and maybe even make a new friend along the way
Happy learning!
