Talking to a native Spanish speaker is one of the best ways to learn the language, but to do so, you first need to know how to introduce yourself. Fortunately, it is not necessary to have special linguistic knowledge to have a simple conversation. Just start by saying ¡Hola! Me llamo (pronunciation) and say your name. Introducing yourself correctly will give you the confidence you need to try to engage in more complex dialogue. You will see that you will make new friends in no time.
Steps
Method 1 of 1: Say Hello and Introduce Yourself
Step 1. Start with a warm greeting
The simplest and most used word for greeting in Spanish is hola (pronunciation). You can also use Buenos días if you greet someone before noon.
In the afternoon you can say Buenas tardes (pronunciation), if you wish to say hello depending on the time of day. After dark, use Buenas noches (pronunciation)
Step 2. Introduce yourself
Saying Me llamo (pronunciation) is the easiest way to introduce yourself after saying goodbye. This phrase literally means "my name is". For example, you could say ¡Hola! Me llamo Maria ("Hello, my name is Maria").
- You can also say Mi nombre es, which literally means "My name is".
- You can use the word soy, which means "I am", to introduce yourself in a short and informal way. For example, you might say: Hola, soy Maria ("Hi, I'm Maria").
Step 3. Include a friendly question
After saying goodbye, ask your interlocutor how they are doing or how their day is going. Cómo estás? (pronunciation) is the most common expression for asking "how are you?" in Spanish.
- Example: ¡Hola! I love Maria. Cómo estás?.
- Enter this question after starting the conversation and introducing yourself politely to your interlocutor.
Step 4. Ask your interlocutor what their name is
Ask your interlocutor ¿Cómo se llama? (pronounces), if you give him some Lei, or ¿Cómo te llamas? (pronounces), if you call him tu, to know his name. You can also simply say ¿Y tú? or ¿Y usted?.
For example, if you say ¡Hola! I love Maria. ¿Y usted?, your interlocutor may reply: Hola, Maria. I love José. Cómo estás?
Step 5.
Tell your interlocutor that you like to meet him.
Once he introduces himself, he exclaims ¡Encantado! (pronunciation) or ¡Encantada! (pronunciation) depending on the genre. It's a simple, conversational way to tell someone you like to meet them.
- You can also say Mucho gusto (pronunciation), which means "Pleasure". This expression is particularly suitable when your interlocutor introduces himself first. For example, imagine someone said to you: ¡Hola! I love José. ¿Y tú?. To this sentence you could answer: Mucho gusto, me llamo Maria.
- Estoy encantado de conocerlo / a (if you speak of yourself to your interlocutor) or Estoy encantado de conocerte (if you speak of you to your interlocutor) is a more formal expression to say "Nice to meet you".
Explain to your interlocutor that you have recently been studying Spanish. If you immediately make it clear that you are new to the language, you may feel more comfortable having a conversation with a native speaker.
- For example, you might say: Estoy estudiando español. ¿Quieres practicar conmigo? ("I'm studying Spanish. Would you like to practice it with me?").
- If your interlocutor accepts, be sure to thank him by saying Gracias.
Chat
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Talk about where you come from. Once you have overcome the obstacle of the first presentation, continue to converse with your interlocutor by sharing some little information about you. Talking about where you come from is a great conversation starter, especially if you're traveling. Use the expression Soy de to say where you come from. If you currently live somewhere other than where you were born, you might also use the phrase Vivo en ("I live in").
- For example, you could say Soy de Roma ("I am from Rome"), or Soy de Roma, pero vivo en Santiago ("I am from Rome, but I live in Santiago").
- Use the question ¿De dondé eres tú? to ask someone where they come from.
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Talk about your job. When talking to someone for the first time, it is common to ask questions like "What do you do?" You can use the verb soy to specify your job title, but you can also use the expression trabajo con ("I work with") to refer to a more general field.
- For example, you could say Soy maestra ("I'm a teacher") or Trabajo con animales ("I work with animals").
- Use the following question to ask someone what their job is: ¿A qué te dedicas? ("What do you do?").
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Talk about your interests. To talk about your passion, all you have to do is use the expression Me gusta (pronunciation) and then add your interest. In this way, your interlocutor can learn a little more about you and what you like. Talking about an interest can offer new conversation points.
For example, you might say Me gustan los animales ("I like animals"). Your interlocutor may reply ¡A mi también! ¿Tienes mascota? ("Me too! Do you have pets?"). You might answer: Yes, un perro y un gato ("Yes, a dog and a cat")
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Learn the main interrogative adverbs, for example cómo (pronunciation) and cuál (pronunciation). Knowing these basic terms will allow you to keep the conversation going. Once you have given information about your account, they will allow you to ask questions to your interlocutor to invite him to do the same.
- At this point you already know cómo thanks to the expression ¿Cómo estas?. Cuál means "which" and qué means "what / what". For example, if you can't hear or understand something, you could say ¿Qué? in Spanish, just like in Italian you would say "What?".
- There are also other interrogative adverbs, such as dónde ("where") and cuándo ("when"). In general, questions are formed in Spanish just like in Italian.
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Add ¿Y tú? ("And you?") Or ¿Y usted? ("What about you?") To keep the conversation going. You can use these questions as a ploy to engage your interlocutor, especially if you don't know how to formulate a question in Spanish or have grammar doubts.
Do not use the informal pronoun tú, unless you are talking to a child or your interlocutor used it first
Advice
When talking to a stranger, use the pronoun usted, unless it is a child. Use the informal pronoun tú only when the other person uses it first
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