How to Say 'This is my friend Sam' in Spanish
Learn to introduce a friend in Spanish using 'Este es mi amigo Sam' and add a detail. Understand how introducing others differs from introducing yourself.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Introducing someone else in Spanish is not just about swapping 'I am' for 'this is.' You need to choose the right demonstrative (este or esta), match the possessive (mi) and noun (amigo/amiga) to the person's gender, and conjugate the verb ser correctly. This lesson teaches you to say 'This is my friend Sam' and add a simple detail, such as where Sam is from or what Sam does. You will also learn why introducing others feels different from introducing yourself: you are now the bridge between two people, so clarity about who you mean is essential.
By the end, you can…
- introduce a male or female friend using 'Este es...' or 'Esta es...'.
- add one detail about my friend, such as their origin or profession.
- distinguish between introducing myself and introducing someone else.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Este es mi amigo Sam.
This is my friend Sam. (male friend)
EHS-teh ehs mee ah-MEE-goh Sam
Use when your friend is male. 'Este' points to a male person; 'amigo' is masculine.
Esta es mi amiga Sam.
This is my friend Sam. (female friend)
EHS-tah ehs mee ah-MEE-gah Sam
Use when your friend is female. 'Esta' and 'amiga' are feminine.
Él es de México.
He is from Mexico.
ehl ehs deh MEH-hee-koh
Adds origin. Use 'Él' for he; 'Ella' for she. In most of Latin America and Spain, the 'x' in 'México' is pronounced like the Spanish 'j' (a raspy 'h' sound).
Ella es estudiante.
She is a student.
EH-yah ehs ehs-too-DYAHN-teh
Adds profession. No article 'a' before the profession in Spanish.
Mi amigo se llama Sam.
My friend's name is Sam.
mee ah-MEE-goh seh YAH-mah Sam
Alternative way to introduce by name. 'Se llama' literally means 'he/she calls himself/herself'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To introduce someone, use 'Este es...' for a male and 'Esta es...' for a female, followed by 'mi amigo/amiga' and the name. Then add a detail with 'Él/Ella es...' + origin or profession. For example: 'Este es mi amigo Sam. Él es de Canadá.' or 'Esta es mi amiga Ana. Ella es doctora.' The demonstrative must match the person's gender, not your own. If you are female introducing a male friend, you still say 'Este es mi amigo'.
When to use it
Use these phrases in social gatherings, classrooms, or when meeting new people. Introducing someone else is different from introducing yourself because you are providing information about a third person, so you must be clear about who you mean. For instance, if you say 'Soy Sam' you introduce yourself, but 'Este es Sam' introduces someone else. In Latin America, it is common to add a detail like 'Él es de aquí' (He is from here) or 'Ella trabaja conmigo' (She works with me) to help others connect.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hola, ¿quién es tu amigo?
Hi, who is your friend?OH-lah, KYEHN ehs too ah-MEE-gohEste es mi amigo Sam. Él es de Canadá.
This is my friend Sam. He is from Canada.EHS-teh ehs mee ah-MEE-goh Sam. ehl ehs deh kah-nah-DAHMucho gusto, Sam. ¿Y qué haces?
Nice to meet you, Sam. And what do you do?MOO-choh GOOS-toh, Sam. ee keh AH-sehsÉl es estudiante de español.
He is a Spanish student.ehl ehs ehs-too-DYAHN-teh deh ehs-pah-NYOLA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American countries, using 'mi amigo' or 'mi amiga' is warm and common, but in more formal situations, you might say 'Le presento a...' (I present to you...). Also, 'amigo' can imply closeness; for acquaintances, 'conocido' is more accurate. Regional note: In some areas, 'acá' is used instead of 'aquí' for 'here', but both are understood.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Este es mi amiga Sam' for a female friend, using the masculine 'este' and 'amigo'.
Try this instead: Match the demonstrative and noun to the friend's gender: 'Esta es mi amiga Sam.' If your friend is male, use 'Este es mi amigo Sam.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you introduce your female friend Ana?
Show a sample answer
Esta es mi amiga Ana.
Because Ana is female, use 'Esta' and 'amiga'. 'Este es mi amiga' would be incorrect.
2Add a detail: Your male friend is from Argentina.
Show a sample answer
Él es de Argentina.
Use 'Él es de' for 'He is from'. You could also say 'Mi amigo es de Argentina.'
3What is the difference between 'Soy Sam' and 'Este es Sam'?
Show a sample answer
'Soy Sam' means 'I am Sam' (introducing yourself). 'Este es Sam' means 'This is Sam' (introducing someone else).
The verb and subject change: 'soy' is first person, 'este es' points to a third person.
To introduce a friend, use 'Este es mi amigo' for males and 'Esta es mi amiga' for females, then add a detail with 'Él/Ella es...'. Always match gender and remember you are speaking about someone else, not yourself.
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