How to say "my name is..." in Modern Standard Arabic
اِسْمِي
ismi
- Without tashkeel
- اسمي
- Franco / chat alphabet
- esmi
- Literally
- name-my
When to use it
The normal way to introduce yourself: ismi followed directly by your name, with no verb in between. It is the same for men and women. In formal introductions it usually follows a greeting and is answered with tasharrafna.
Other ways to say it
with the pronoun
أَنَا اسْمِي
ana ismi
me, my name is
Adds a little emphasis, as when answering "and you?".
simplest
أَنَا
ana
I am
Just "I am" plus your name; fine in any setting.
literary
أُدْعَى
ud3a
I am called
Found in books and formal speech, rarely said aloud.
for forms and officials
اِسْمِي الْكَامِلُ
ismi al-kamilu
my full name is
Use when giving your name for paperwork.
How people reply
تَشَرَّفْنَا
tasharrafna
Pleased to meet you.
أَهْلاً وَسَهْلاً
ahlan wa-sahlan
Welcome.
وَأَنَا اسْمِي...
wa-ana ismi...
And my name is...
In a sentence
اِسْمِي سَارَة، وَأَنَا مِنْ كَنَدَا.
ismi sara, wa-ana min kanada.
My name is Sarah, and I am from Canada.
مَرْحَباً، اِسْمِي يُوسُف. مَا اسْمُكَ؟
mar7aban, ismi yusuf. ma ismuka?
Hello, my name is Youssef. What is your name?
اِسْمِي لَيْلَى وَأَعْمَلُ مُعَلِّمَةً.
ismi layla wa-a3malu mu3allimatan.
My name is Layla and I work as a teacher.