Spanish - Meeting New People

Soy de ___.

I'm from ___.

Meaning: I'm from ___.

When to use: Use this to tell someone the country, city, or place you come from: “Soy de México.”

Mucho gusto.

Nice to meet you.

Meaning: Nice to meet you.

When to use: Say this when you meet someone for the first time: a standard polite greeting.

Igualmente, mucho gusto.

Nice to meet you too.

Meaning: Nice to meet you too.

When to use: Use this to respond politely when someone says “Mucho gusto.”

¿De dónde conoces a ___?

How do you know ___?

Meaning: How do you know ___?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the connection between the person you are with and someone else (for example: a mutual friend).

Nos conocemos de ___.

We know each other from ___.

Meaning: We know each other from ___.

When to use: Use this to explain how you met someone (school, work, a club, etc.).

¿Eres nuevo por aquí?

Are you new here?

Meaning: Are you new here?

When to use: Ask this when you think someone has recently arrived to the area, office, or group. Use “nuevo” for masculine or mixed/unknown gender and “nueva” for feminine.

Tip: Remember to change to “nueva” if you know the person is female.

Soy nuevo por aquí.

I'm new here.

Meaning: I'm new here.

When to use: Say this to tell someone you have just arrived in a place (use nuevo/nueva by gender).

Tip: Use gender agreement: nuevo (m), nueva (f).

Perdón, ¿cómo te llamabas?

Sorry, what was your name again?

Meaning: Sorry, what was your name again?

When to use: Use this politely when you've forgotten someone's name or didn't catch it the first time.

Déjame presentarme.

Let me introduce myself.

Meaning: Let me introduce myself.

When to use: Start a self-introduction when meeting someone new or joining a group.

Creo que no nos conocemos.

I don't think we've met.

Meaning: I don't think we've met.

When to use: Say this when you believe you have not met the person before (polite and neutral).

¿Nos conocemos de antes?

Have we met before?

Meaning: Have we met before?

When to use: Ask this to check if you have seen the person earlier or in another context.

Quiero presentarte a ___.

I'd like you to meet ___.

Meaning: I'd like you to meet ___.

When to use: Use this to introduce a third person to someone. Uses tú form; for formal speech, change to presentarle.

¿Cómo se escribe tu nombre?

How do you spell your name?

Meaning: How do you spell your name?

When to use: Ask this when you need the spelling of someone's name; a common polite question.