How to Say 'My Name Is' in Russian

The most popular way to say "my name is" in Russian is меня зовут (meNYA zaVOOT). Additionally, there are several other ways to introduce yourself, including informal and formal introductions. Below are the ten most common ways to say "my name is" in Russian.

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Меня зовут

Pronunciation: meNYA zaVOOT

Translation: They call me

Meaning: My name is

Saying меня зовут is the most versatile and common way to introduce yourself. It is suitable for any situation, from the very informal to the very formal settings.

Example:

- Добрый день, меня зовут Анна. (DOBriy DEN', meNYA zaVOOT ANna)
- Good afternoon, my name is Anna.

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Я —

Pronunciation: ya

Translation: I am/I'm

Meaning: I am/I'm

Another versatile way to say "my name is" in Russian, я — followed by your name is great for everyday situations.

Example:

- Я — Оксана, а ты? (ya — akSAna, ah TY?)
- I'm Oxana, what's your name?

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Хочу представиться

Pronunciation: haCHOO pretSTAvitsa

Translation: I want to introduce myself

Meaning: I'd like to introduce myself

This is a more formal way to introduce yourself. It is suitable for introductions among colleagues and groups of acquaintances.

Example:

- Хочу представиться: Георгий Валерьевич. (haCHOO pretSTAvitsa: gheORgiy vaLYErievitch)
- I'd like to introduce myself: Georgiy Valerievich

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Моё имя —

Pronunciation: maYO EEmya —

Translation: My name is

Meaning: My name is

Although this expression translates literally as "my name is," it is not as common as меня зовут.

Example:

- Моё имя — Галина (maYO EEmya — gaLEEna)
- My name is Galina

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Разрешите представиться

Pronunciation: razreSHEEtye pretSTAvitsa

Translation: Allow me to introduce myself

Meaning: Allow me to/let me introduce myself

A formal way to make introductions, разрешите представиться is suitable for work and other formal situations.

Example:

- Разрешите представиться: Ирина Иванова, директор. (razreSHEEtye pretSTAvitsa: iREEna ivaNOva, diRECtor)
- Allow me to introduce myself: Irina Ivanova, Director.

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Давайте знакомиться

Pronunciation: daVAI-te znaKOmitsa

Translation: Let's get the introductions going, let's introduce ourselves

Meaning: Let's introduce ourselves, let's get acquainted

This is a more informal way to get started with introductions. It has a friendly tone and is suitable for any setting where the register is likely to be not too formal, such as a work-related training event or time spent with good acquaintances and friends.

Example:

- Давайте знакомиться. Это Андрей Иванович, а я — Вячеслав Тимофеевич. (daVAI-te znaKOmitsa. EHta anDREY iVAnavitch, a YA - vycheSLAF timaFYEyevitch)
- Let's get acquainted. This is Andrei Ivanovich, and I'm Vyacheslav Timofeevich.

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Познакомимся?

Pronunciation: paznaKOmimsya?

Translation: Shall we introduce ourselves?

Meaning: Shall we introduce ourselves/exchange names?

Informal in tone, познакомимся is often used in situations where you would expect to become friends and even switch to the informal you (ты) once the introductions have been made.

Example:

- Познакомимся? Виолета. А Вы? (paznaKOmimsya? viaLEta. a VY?)
- Shall we introduce ourselves? Violet. And you are?

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Зовут меня

Pronunciation: zaVOOT meNYA

Translation: They call me

Meaning: My name is

Reversing the order of the words from меня зовут to зовут меня creates a more informal and narrative-like tone. A similar word reversal is often used in Russian fiction. Therefore, this expression is often used in a longer introduction that feels more like a story.

Example:

- Зовут меня Вадим, живу я в Москве. (zaVOOT meNYA vaDEEM, zheeVOO ya vmaskVYE)
- My name is Vadim, I live in Moscow.

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Давайте познакомимся

Pronunciation: daVAI-te paznaKOmimsya

Translation: Let's introduce ourselves

Meaning: Let's introduce ourselves

This is a versatile introduction that can be informal or formal depending on the context and the speaker. It is suitable for all social settings. When used in a setting where everyone addresses each other as an informal "you" (ты), change it to давай познакомимся (daVAI paznaKOmimsya).

Example:

- Давайте познакомимся. Меня зовут Ольга, а Вас? (daVAI-te paznaKOmimsya. meNYA zaVOOT OLga, a VAS?)
- Let's introduce ourselves. My name is Olga, and you are?

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Меня величают

Pronunciation: meNYA veliCHAyut

Translation: They call me/they address me as

Meaning: My name is, they address me as

An archaic-sounding expression that seems very formal, it is often used in modern Russian as a way to add flavor or specific context to speech, such as irony. The word величать was originally meant to address someone by their official title and shared its root with the word великий (veLEEkiy), meaning great. You will also come across this expression in Russian classic literature.

Example:

- Меня зовут Дима, но друзья меня величают Димоном. (meNYA zaVOOT DEEma, noh droozYA meNYA veliCHAyut deeMOnam)
- My name is Dima but my friends call me Dimon.

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Nikitina, Maia. "How to Say 'My Name Is' in Russian and Other Introductory Phrases." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/my-name-is-in-russian-4776547. Nikitina, Maia. (2020, August 29). How to Say 'My Name Is' in Russian and Other Introductory Phrases. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/my-name-is-in-russian-4776547 Nikitina, Maia. "How to Say 'My Name Is' in Russian and Other Introductory Phrases." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/my-name-is-in-russian-4776547 (accessed May 28, 2023).