Talk about yourself in Spanish

The ability to talk about yourself is essential in any language. In Spanish, expressing personal information such as your name, origin, and current place of residence allows you to establish meaningful connections with native speakers. Mastering these basic expressions will open doors to deeper conversations and help you navigate everyday situations with greater confidence.
How to talk about yourself in Spanish?
After learning the alphabet, introducing yourself, and expressing how you feel, the next natural step is to share basic personal information. This skill is essential for establishing initial connections in any Spanish conversation.
To talk about yourself, you can use phrases like:
“Yo me llamo namenamename”

• “Yo me llamo [nombre]”
• “Mi apellido es [apellido]”
• “Se deletrea [deletreo del apellido]”
• “Yo soy de [lugar de origen]”
• “Yo vivo en [lugar actual]”

It’s important to distinguish between origin and current residence. When you say “yo soy de”, you’re indicating your place of origin. For example: “Yo soy de Seattle, Washington”. On the other hand, “yo vivo en” refers to your current place of residence: “Yo vivo en Colombia”.
Examples of personal introductions
Let’s look at some examples of how people introduce themselves in Spanish:
“Mi nombre es John, mi apellido es Carvajal. Estoy feliz. Yo soy de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Yo vivo en Bogotá, Colombia.”

“Yo me llamo Stefany, mi apellido es Salas. Estoy enojada. Yo soy de San Cristóbal, Venezuela. Yo vivo en Bogotá, Colombia.”

“Yo soy Agustina, mi apellido es Bussi. Estoy bien, yo soy de Bariloche, Argentina. Yo vivo en Bogotá, Colombia.”

These examples show how to combine a basic introduction with information about mood, origin, and current residence.
How to differentiate between “ser de” and “vivir en”?
The distinction between “ser de” and “vivir en” can be confusing for Spanish learners. Let’s look at some examples to clarify:
“Yo soy de Buenos Aires” – This phrase indicates your origin, where you’re originally from.

“Yo vivo en Veracruz” – This expression indicates where you currently live.

Never say:
❌ "Yo estoy de Buenos Aires"
❌ "Yo llamo en Veracruz"
❌ “Yo soy en Veracruz”

The correct forms are:
✅ “Yo soy de placeplaceplace” – To indicate origin
✅ “Yo vivo en placeplaceplace” – To indicate current residence

How to practice these expressions?
Practice is essential for mastering these expressions. We recommend:
Write about yourself using the phrases you’ve learned.

Record your voice while practicing these expressions.
Share your recordings with other students to get feedback.
Listen to native speakers introducing themselves to become familiar with correct pronunciation.

Full structure for introducing yourself
A complete personal introduction in Spanish might follow this structure:

1. Nombre: “Yo me llamo [nombre]” o “Mi nombre es [nombre]”
2. Apellido: “Mi apellido es [apellido]”
3. Deletreo (si es necesario): “Se deletrea [deletreo]”
4. Estado de ánimo: “Estoy [estado]”
5. Origen: “Yo soy de [lugar de origen]”
6. Residencia actual: “Yo vivo en [lugar actual]”

Mastering these basic expressions will allow you to communicate more confidently in your first Spanish conversations. Remember, consistent practice is key to improving your fluency and pronunciation. Don’t be shy—record your voice and share your personal introduction to receive feedback and keep improving!