How to Ask Someone's Name in Italian: Formal and Informal Phrases
Learn to ask someone's name politely in Italian with come ti chiami and come si chiama. Understand formal vs informal address, and use these phrases to call a girl or anyone.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Italian, asking someone's name is not just a vocabulary question—it's a choice about politeness. The phrase you use depends on whether you're speaking to a peer, a child, or someone older or in authority. This lesson gives you the two core patterns: the informal come ti chiami? and the formal come si chiama? You'll also learn how to address a girl or woman appropriately, and how to call out to someone whose name you don't know. By the end, you'll be able to start a conversation naturally without sounding too familiar or too stiff.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone's name using both informal and formal Italian.
- choose the right register when addressing a girl, a peer, or an older person.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Come ti chiami?
What's your name? (informal)
KOH-meh tee KYAH-mee
Use with friends, classmates, children, and people your age in casual settings.
Come si chiama?
What's your name? (formal)
KOH-meh see KYAH-mah
Use with strangers older than you, officials, or anyone you address with Lei.
Posso chiederti come ti chiami?
May I ask your name? (informal)
POHS-soh KYEH-dehr-tee KOH-meh tee KYAH-mee
A polite way to ask informally, often after a brief introduction or in a friendly chat.
Posso chiederle come si chiama?
May I ask your name? (formal)
POHS-soh KYEH-dehr-leh KOH-meh see KYAH-mah
Very polite; use with someone you've just met in a professional or respectful context.
Scusi, come si chiama?
Excuse me, what's your name? (formal)
SKOO-zee KOH-meh see KYAH-mah
A direct but polite way to ask a stranger, for example a staff member or an official.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The verb chiamarsi means 'to be called.' It is reflexive, so the pronoun changes with the subject: io mi chiamo, tu ti chiami, lei/lui si chiama. To ask a question, put come first: Come ti chiami? (informal) or Come si chiama? (formal). The same pattern works for a girl or a woman: Come ti chiami? is fine if you're speaking to her directly and informally. If you want to ask about a third person, say Come si chiama? with the same form as formal 'you,' but context makes it clear. For example: Come si chiama tua sorella? (What's your sister's name?)
When to use it
Italian has a formal 'you' (Lei) and an informal 'you' (tu). Use tu with friends, family, children, and peers. Use Lei with strangers who seem older, people in authority, and in professional settings. If you're unsure, start with the formal Come si chiama? and switch to tu only if the other person invites it, for example by saying dammi del tu. When addressing a girl informally, Come ti chiami? is natural and friendly. When addressing a woman formally, use Come si chiama? and the title signora if appropriate. Avoid using tu with someone much older unless they've clearly signaled it's okay.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, posso chiederle come si chiama?
Excuse me, may I ask your name?SKOO-zee POHS-soh KYEH-dehr-leh KOH-meh see KYAH-mahCerto, mi chiamo Elena. E lei?
Of course, my name is Elena. And you?CHEHR-toh mee KYAH-moh EH-leh-nah eh LAYPiacere, io sono Marco. Come si chiama la sua collega?
Nice to meet you, I'm Marco. What's your colleague's name?pyah-CHEH-reh EE-oh SOH-noh MAR-koh KOH-meh see KYAH-mah lah SOO-ah kohl-LEH-gahSi chiama Giulia. È molto gentile.
Her name is Giulia. She's very kind.see KYAH-mah JOO-lyah eh MOHL-toh jehn-TEE-lehA little context goes a long way
In Italy, using the formal Lei with someone you've just met is a sign of respect, especially if they are older or in a service role. However, among young people and in casual settings, tu is common almost immediately. If you're not sure, it's safer to start formal and let the other person suggest switching. When addressing a girl or woman, there's no special word for 'girl' in the question itself—Come ti chiami? works for any age. Just be mindful of tone: a friendly smile makes the informal question warm, not intrusive.
One thing to watch for
Using Come ti chiami? with an older stranger or someone in authority.
Try this instead: Use the formal Come si chiama? instead. For example, to a hotel receptionist: Scusi, come si chiama? This shows respect. If they respond with 'dammi del tu,' you can switch to Come ti chiami? later.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You're talking to a new classmate your age. How do you ask their name informally?
Show a sample answer
Come ti chiami?
This is the standard informal question for peers. You could also say Posso chiederti come ti chiami? for a softer tone. Both are correct.
2You need to ask a middle-aged stranger for their name politely. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Come si chiama?
The formal Lei form is appropriate here. Adding Scusi at the start makes it even more polite: Scusi, come si chiama?
3You want to ask a friend about her sister's name. Which phrase do you use?
Show a sample answer
Come si chiama tua sorella?
Here si chiama refers to the sister, not to the person you're talking to. The context makes it clear. You could also say Come si chiama lei? but naming the person is clearer.
To ask a name in Italian, choose between informal Come ti chiami? and formal Come si chiama? When in doubt, start formal. Use the same pattern to ask about a girl or anyone else—just adjust the context and politeness.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Italian into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr