Introducing yourself (mam na imię)

Two ways to give your name

Polish has a first-name way and a full-name way, and they are not interchangeable.

my name is (first name)

mam na imię + first name. Literally I have as a first name. This is the everyday introduction: Mam na imię Anna.

Nazywam się + full name, from nazywać się in the previous lessons. This is the formal one, used for surnames and official situations.

you sayyou mean
Mam na imię Anna.My name is Anna.
Nazywam się Anna Kowalska.My name is Anna Kowalska.

Asking back

what is your name (informal)

jak się nazywasz is what is your name — literally how do you call yourself. Polish asks jak (how), never what.

where are you from (informal)

skąd jesteś asks where someone is from.

The formula that follows

pleased to meet you

miło mipleased to meet you, literally (it is) pleasant to me. It is the expected reply to an introduction.

to welcome, to greet

witać (to welcome) gives you Witam — a greeting a host or a shopkeeper uses, and a common opening in email.

Contributors