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Italian Phrase

Mi chiamo Sarah.

/mi ˈkjamo ˈsa.ra/
Meaning"My name is Sarah."
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Meaning

Literally ‘I call myself Sarah’, the standard way to introduce yourself in Italian. It is a neutral, everyday expression used in both casual and semi‑formal settings.

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When to use

Use this phrase the moment you meet someone new, when filling out a form that asks for your name, or whenever you need to state your name in conversation.

✦Grammar Breakdown

MichiamoSarah

1

Mi

Reflexive pronoun for first‑person singular, required by the verb chiamarsi to mean ‘myself’.

2

chiamo

First‑person singular present of the reflexive verb chiamarsi ‘to be called’; literally ‘I call myself’.

3

Sarah

A proper name; Italian does not change foreign names, so it stays as‑is.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ciao! Come ti chiami?

Hi! What’s your name?

Mi chiamo Sarah.

My name is Sarah.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Io chiamo Sarah.

    ‘Io chiamo Sarah’ means ‘I call Sarah’, not ‘My name is Sarah’. The reflexive form ‘mi chiamo’ is required.

  • Mi chiami Sarah?

    This turns the statement into a question and also uses the second‑person form ‘chiami’. Use ‘ti chiami’ for ‘what’s your name?’

  • Mi chiamo la Sarah.

    Italian does not use the article ‘la’ before a proper name; just say ‘Mi chiamo Sarah’.

↔Alternatives

  • Sono Sarah.

    I am Sarah.

  • Mi presento, sono Sarah.

    Let me introduce myself, I’m Sarah.

  • Il mio nome è Sarah.

    My name is Sarah.

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Cultural Tip

In Italy it’s common to follow the introduction with a friendly ‘Piacere di conoscerti’ (‘Nice to meet you’). When speaking to someone older or in a formal setting, you may add ‘Mi chiamo Sarah, piacere’ or use the surname after the first name. Italians rarely use titles (Mr., Ms.) in casual introductions, but you can say ‘Signora Sarah’ if you need extra politeness.