My name is in German · with audio

My Name Is in German: Ich heiße, Ich bin, and Mein Name ist

My name is

Ich heiße …

My name is in German is Ich heiße …, literally "I am called …". It is the standard way to introduce yourself, it works in every situation, and it is usually the first full German sentence a learner says out loud. The casual version is Ich bin … (I am …), and the formal version is Mein Name ist … (my name is …).

The list below has the three ways to give your name, the questions people will ask you, how to say where you are from, and what to say when someone introduces themselves to you. Every phrase has audio.

Ways to say my name is in German

Ich heiße is the safe choice. Ich bin is what friends say. Mein Name ist is what you say on the phone or in a formal meeting. The questions come in a formal Sie form and an informal du form.

German	English	Note
Ich heiße … Literally "I am called". Works everywhere	My name is …	Literally "I am called". Works everywhere
Ich bin … The most casual form, common among young people	I am …	The most casual form, common among young people
Mein Name ist … Formal, on the phone and in meetings	My name is …	Formal, on the phone and in meetings
Wie heißen Sie? / Wie heißt du? Formal / informal	What is your name?	Formal / informal
Wie ist Ihr Name? / Wie ist dein Name? Formal / informal, a little more official	What is your name?	Formal / informal, a little more official
Ich heiße … und Sie? / und du? Give your name, then ask back	My name is … and you?	Give your name, then ask back
Man nennt mich … For a nickname or a short form	People call me …	For a nickname or a short form
Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen / Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen Formal / informal	Nice to meet you	Formal / informal
Angenehm Formal and a little old-fashioned	Pleased to meet you	Formal and a little old-fashioned
Ich komme aus … Ich komme aus England, aus der Türkei, aus den USA	I come from …	Ich komme aus England, aus der Türkei, aus den USA
Ich wohne in … Ich wohne in Hamburg	I live in …	Ich wohne in Hamburg

What to say when someone introduces themselves

After someone gives you their name, say that you are pleased to meet them. Freut mich is enough in almost every situation.

German	English	Note
Freut mich Short for "es freut mich"	Nice to meet you	Short for "es freut mich"
Sehr erfreut Formal	Very pleased to meet you	Formal
Angenehm Formal, often with a handshake	Pleased	Formal, often with a handshake
Schön, dich kennenzulernen Informal and warm	Nice to get to know you	Informal and warm

Example sentences

Hallo, ich heiße Anna. Und du?
Hello, my name is Anna. And you?
Ich bin Tom. Freut mich!
I am Tom. Nice to meet you!
Guten Tag, mein Name ist Müller. Ich habe einen Termin um zehn.
Good day, my name is Müller. I have an appointment at ten.
Wie heißen Sie, bitte?
What is your name, please?
Ich komme aus Kanada und wohne jetzt in München.
I come from Canada and now live in Munich.
Man nennt mich Alex, aber ich heiße Alexander.
People call me Alex, but my name is Alexander.

Good to know

How heißen changes

Heißen means "to be called". The forms you need are ich heiße (I am called), du heißt (you are called, informal), er / sie heißt (he / she is called), and Sie heißen (you are called, formal). The letter ß is a sharp s sound, so heiße sounds like "HY-suh".

Ich bin is casual, Mein Name ist is formal

All three forms are correct. Ich bin Lisa is what you say at a party. Mein Name ist Lisa Weber is what you say when you call a company or introduce yourself in a meeting. Ich heiße sits in the middle and is always safe.

Germans answer the phone with their surname

When Germans pick up the phone, they often say only their surname: Weber? or Weber, guten Tag. When you call someone, start with your own name: Guten Tag, hier ist Lisa Weber (hello, this is Lisa Weber).

Wie heißt … also asks for words

The same verb asks for the name of a thing: Wie heißt das auf Deutsch? means "what is that called in German?". It is one of the most useful questions a learner can ask.

First name or surname?

With Ich heiße you can give your first name, your surname, or both. In formal settings Germans give the full name and are addressed as Herr or Frau plus the surname until someone offers the first name and du.

Practice with flashcards

This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say my name is in German?

Ich heiße followed by your name, for example Ich heiße Anna. It literally means "I am called Anna" and works in every situation.

What is the difference between Ich heiße and Ich bin?

Both introduce you. Ich heiße is neutral and always correct. Ich bin is more casual and common among friends and young people. Mein Name ist is the formal option.

How do you ask someone their name in German?

Wie heißen Sie? is the formal question and Wie heißt du? is the informal one. Both mean "what is your name?". Wie ist Ihr Name? is a slightly more official version.

How do you say nice to meet you in German?

Freut mich. The full form is Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen (formal) or Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen (informal). Angenehm is a formal, older alternative.

How do you introduce yourself in German?

Start with a greeting, then your name, then where you are from: Hallo, ich heiße Tom. Ich komme aus Irland und wohne in Berlin. Then ask back with Und du? or Und Sie?

How do you pronounce Ich heiße?

Ikh HY-suh. The ch in ich is a soft sound made at the front of the mouth, ei sounds like the English word "eye", and ß is a sharp s.

Continue learning

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