KalamHow to Say My Name Is in Arabic
To say my name is in Arabic, use اسمي (ismī) followed by your name: اسمي سارة (ismī sāra), "my name is Sara." Arabic needs no word for "is," so ismī literally means "my name." You can also say أنا (ana), "I am," plus your name. Moroccans say سميتي (smiyti).
Literally: “my name”
My Name Is across the Arab world
Arabic changes from country to country. Here's what you'll actually hear.
To ask: ما اسمك؟ (mā ismuka?) to a man, mā ismuki? to a woman.
Egyptians usually add ana. To ask: اسمك إيه؟ (ismak ēh?), to a woman ismik ēh?
Levantineاسمي ...ismi ...To ask: شو اسمك؟ (shū ismak?), to a woman shū ismik?
Gulfاسمي ...ismi ...To ask: شو اسمك؟ (shū ismak?) in the Emirates, إيش اسمك؟ (ēsh ismak?) in Saudi Arabia, شسمك؟ (sh-ismak?) in Kuwait.
Darijaسميتي ...smiyti ...Moroccan Darija uses a different word for name, smiya. To ask: شنو سميتك؟ (shnū smiytek?).
Other ways to say My Name Is
How to respond
Nice to meet you (lit. we are honored)
Welcome
And my name is ...
Nice name (Levantine; Egyptian: ism ḥelw)
How to say it right
The sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to get them right.
Practise with feedbackIsmī starts with a clear i and the s and m run together: ISS-mee. The final ī is long in MSA and short in casual speech.
There's no separate word for "is." Just put your name straight after ismī: ismī Adam.
In Egyptian ēh (what), the ē is like the e in "they" and the h is light but audible.
In Moroccan smiyti, the first vowel disappears: say s-MEE-ti, with the s right against the m.
Example sentences
Hello, my name is Ahmad. What's your name?
Standard (MSA)My name is Maryam, and what's your name?
EgyptianMy name is Youssef, but everyone calls me Joe.
LevantineMy name is Yassine, nice to meet you.
DarijaUsing it like a local
Names carry a lot of weight in Arab culture. After hearing your name, people may ask what it means or comment on it kindly, and many will remember your family connections. Learning to say your own name clearly in Arabic, with its Arabic sounds, makes a strong first impression.
Parents are often called by the name of their eldest son, or sometimes eldest child: أبو أحمد (abū aḥmad, "father of Ahmad") and أم أحمد (umm aḥmad, "mother of Ahmad"). Using this kunya is warm and respectful, and you may hear it far more than first names.
When introducing yourself to someone older or in a formal setting, follow your name with tasharrafnā or ahlan wa sahlan. With elders, a respectful title like ʿammo (uncle) or khālto (auntie) often replaces their first name.
My Name Is: common questions
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How do you say "my name is" in Arabic?
Say اسمي (ismī) followed by your name, for example اسمي ليلى (ismī laylā), "my name is Layla." Arabic doesn't need a word for "is" in this sentence.
How do you ask "what is your name?" in Arabic?
In MSA say ما اسمك؟ (mā ismuka?) to a man or mā ismuki? to a woman. In Egyptian it's اسمك إيه؟ (ismak ēh?), in Levantine شو اسمك؟ (shū ismak?), and in Moroccan Darija شنو سميتك؟ (shnū smiytek?).
Can I just say ana and my name?
Yes. أنا (ana) plus your name, like ana sāmī, means "I'm Sami" and is perfectly natural in every dialect, especially in casual settings or on the phone.
Why do Moroccans say smiyti instead of ismi?
Moroccan Darija uses the word smiya (from the same root as ism) for name, so "my name" becomes سميتي (smiyti). Moroccans understand ismī too, but smiyti is what you'll hear in daily speech.
Related words & phrases
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