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Italian Phrase

Mi chiamo Raphael. Piacere.

/mi ˈkja.mo raˈfa.el pjaˈtʃe.re/
Meaning"My name is Raphael. Nice to meet you."
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Meaning

Literally, ‘I am called Raphael. Pleasure.’ In everyday Italian it means ‘My name is Raphael. Nice to meet you.’ The second sentence is a brief, friendly way to acknowledge the other person after an introduction.

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When to use

Use this phrase right after you introduce yourself to someone you are meeting for the first time, especially in informal or semi‑formal settings such as social gatherings, language exchanges, or casual business introductions.

✦Grammar Breakdown

MichiamoRaphaelPiacere

1

Mi

Reflexive pronoun for first‑person singular used with verbs like chiamarsi to indicate ‘myself’.

2

chiamo

First‑person singular present indicative of the reflexive verb chiamarsi – ‘to be called’.

3

Piacere

Short, informal way to say ‘Nice to meet you’; literally ‘pleasure’, often followed by ‘di conoscerti’ in more formal contexts.

🗨In Conversation

A

Mi chiamo Raphael. Piacere.

My name is Raphael. Nice to meet you.

Piacere, Marco.

Nice to meet you, Marco.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Mi chiamo me Raphael.

    The reflexive pronoun ‘mi’ already implies ‘myself’; you don’t add another pronoun.

  • Piacere di te.

    ‘Piacere di te’ is ungrammatical; the correct expression is ‘Piacere di conoscerti’ or simply ‘Piacere’.

  • Mi chiamo Raphael, piacere di incontrare.

    ‘Incontrare’ needs an object; you would say ‘Piacere di incontrarti’ or ‘Piacere di conoscerti’.

↔Alternatives

  • Sono Raphael. Piacere di conoscerti.

    I am Raphael. Nice to meet you.

  • Mi chiamo Raphael, piacere di conoscerti.

    My name is Raphael, pleased to meet you.

  • Ciao, sono Raphael. Piacere!

    Hi, I’m Raphael. Nice to meet you!

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Cultural Tip

In Italy people often introduce themselves with just their first name, especially in informal contexts. Saying only “Piacere” is perfectly acceptable among peers, but in more formal situations you’ll hear the full “Piacere di conoscerti” (or “Piacere di conoscerla” when speaking to someone you’d address with the formal ‘Lei’). Also, eye contact and a brief handshake or a cheek kiss (depending on the region) usually accompany the verbal greeting.