How to introduce yourself in English

If you're just starting to learn English, you've probably asked yourself: how do you introduce yourself in English? This is a very common question among students who are taking their first steps in the language, but it's also essential vocabulary for anyone who wants to become fluent and talk to other people with confidence. 

In this article, we'll teach you how to present yourself in English in different situations with practical examples that can be adapted to your day-to-day life. Read on and discover the best tips! 

The importance of knowing how to introduce yourself in English

Knowing how to introduce yourself in English is an essential skill for anyone who wants to communicate with people from different countries and cultures. Whether you're making new friends, attending events, traveling or working, you'll need to know how to say who you are, what you do, where you come from and what your interests are - in English, of course.

More than just an association of words, knowing how to introduce yourself in English shows politeness, respect and cordiality towards the people you meet. What's more, the skill is an excellent socializing tool that contributes to both your personal and professional growth. 

How to introduce yourself in English in different everyday situations?

Contrary to popular belief, just knowing things like "hello" or asking "what's your name" in English is not enough to introduce yourself. That's the basics, it's true, but you need to understand that personal presentation goes much further than that and depends on the context, the objective and the level of formality of the situation. 

Not least because there are different ways of introducing yourself, which vary depending on the event, the number of people and what you have to say to them. In general, you can use the following expressions to introduce yourself to other people: 

  • "Hello, my name is..." 

  • "Hi, my name is..." 

  • "Good morning", "good afternoon" or "good evening" 

  • "I'm..." 

  • "Nice to meet you 

  • "I'm here for..." 

  • "I'm from..." 

Want more examples of how to introduce yourself in English and start a conversation? Don't worry, below you'll find practical examples of how to include the above expressions in your social, academic and even professional routine. 

Formal conversations 

In formal situations, such as in the workplace or at academic events, it is important to be polite and respectful when introducing yourself. You can use the following expressions: 

  • "Hello, my name is..." 

  • "I'm..." 

  • "Nice to meet you 

  • "It's a pleasure to meet you" 

  • "I'm here for..." 

  • "I work as..." 

  • "I'm from..." 

  • "I'm interested in..." 

Examples of how to present yourself in English in formal situations: 

  • "Hello, my name is John and I'm the marketing manager of ABC company" 

  • "Hi, I'm Pedro and I am a speaker at this event" 

  • "Good morning, I'm Peter and I'm here for the job interview. I have a degree in finance, and I have five years of experience in this field. Nice to meet you." 

Informal conversations 

On the other hand, in informal situations (such as when you meet someone or when you travel to another country), you can adapt your speech to more relaxed and friendly situations. In this case, you can think of answers to the following questions: 

  • "What is your name?” 

  • "Where are you from?” 

  • "What do you do?” 

  • "What are your hobbies?" 

  • "How are you?” 

  • "How old are you?” 

Here are some examples of how to present yourself in English in informal situations: 

  • "Hey, I'm Lucas and I love music". 

  • "Hi there, I'm Gloria and I'm a student. 

  • "Hi, I'm Daniel and I'm from Rio de Janeiro. I'm a teacher and I love to travel. What's your name?" 

  • "My name is Maria and I'm 25 years old. I'm from Spain and I'm here on vacation. Where are you from?" 

  • "How are you? My name is Carlos and I'm a musician. I play the guitar and the piano. What do you do?" 

Adapting the presentation to different needs 

In addition to the formal or informal tone, you can also adapt the way you present yourself in English according to the specific situation you're in: 

  • If you're seeing someone for the first time, you can say: "Nice to meet you" 

  • However, if you're meeting someone again after a while, you can say: "Nice to see you again" 

  • But if you're saying goodbye to someone, you can say: "It was nice talking to you" 

Let’s learn how to introduce yourself in English to more people

As you've seen, introducing yourself goes far beyond just knowing how to say hello or how to say "my name is" in English. Not least because interactions can vary greatly depending on the context.  

In addition to all the variations we've seen so far, you should also learn how to introduce yourself to more people, whether in a meeting, at a party or in a classroom, for example. So here are some tips and expressions similar to those we use for one person, but with a few adaptations: 

  1. Start with a collective greeting, such as "Hello everyone", "Hi guys" or "Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone". 

  2. Then say your name. You can use "My name is..." (or simply say your name. For example: "I'm Ana") 

  3. Then you can say something about yourself, such as your profession, your nationality, your hobbies or why you are there. For example: "I'm a teacher", "I'm from Brazil", "I like to read" or "I'm here for a conference". 

The importance of having a good English school by your side, from zero to post-advanced level

Now that you know different ways of introducing yourself in the language, you need to understand that in order to master this vocabulary and other essential skills for speaking English fluently, you need to have a good school by your side.

And given everything that has been explained in this article, the best option is EF English Live's online English course. With it, you have access to live classes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with qualified native teachers, up-to-date content, interactive and flexible teaching materials, as well as internationally recognized certificates.

Don't waste time and start learning English today with the world's largest online English course. Find out your English level with our free online test, register and choose the best plan for your needs. You'll see how much easier, more natural and more fun it will be to present yourself in English!