How to Introduce Yourself in English
Learn how to introduce yourself in English with short dialogues for class, work and new friends, plus a flexible template and practice exercises.
To introduce yourself in English, begin with a greeting and your name, add one detail that suits the situation, and invite the other person to speak. A short introduction often works better than a long list of facts.
For example: “Hi, I'm Leena. I'm joining the evening class. Is this your first lesson too?” That gives your listener a name, a reason you are there, and an easy question to answer. You can use the same structure at work or with new friends by changing the detail.
Build an introduction you can change
Think of your introduction as three small pieces rather than a speech to memorise.
Piece | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
Greeting and name | Help someone know who you are. | Hi, I'm Leena. |
One useful detail | Explain your connection to this situation. | I'm joining the evening class. |
A question | Give the other person a turn. | Have you studied here before? |
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
You do not need to include your age, full address, family details, or every hobby. Choose information you are comfortable sharing and that helps the conversation.
“I'm Leena” and “My name is Leena” are both correct. The first is often convenient in conversation. You can use “Hello” in a more formal setting and “Hi” in a relaxed one; your tone and the situation also matter.
Dialogue card 1: meeting a classmate
Leena: Hi, I'm Leena. I'm new to this class.
Omar: Hi, Leena. I'm Omar. I started last week.
Leena: Good to meet you. Do you know where we can sit?
Omar: Yes, there are two empty seats over there.
Leena gives a relevant detail and asks a practical question. She does not need to explain her whole learning history. After this exchange, she could ask about the class or share one reason she is learning English.
Your version: Hi, I'm ___. I'm here for ___. Do you know ___?
Read the template once, fill it with true information, and then try saying it without looking. An introduction should sound like a message to a person, rather than a form you are reading aloud.
Dialogue card 2: meeting a colleague
Nico: Hello, I'm Nico. I've just joined the design team.
Sara: Welcome, Nico. I'm Sara from customer support.
Nico: I'm looking forward to working with everyone. What are you working on today?
Sara: We're updating our help pages. The design team is helping with the layout.
A team or role is a useful detail at work. If you are still learning the job, “I'm new here” is enough. You do not have to use the present perfect from this example; “I work in the design team” is a simpler alternative when you want to describe your role.
Your version: Hello, I'm ___. I work in ___. Which team are you in?
Dialogue card 3: meeting a friend's friend
Ravi: Hi, I'm Ravi. I know Ana from our walking group.
Ella: I'm Ella. Ana and I used to study together.
Ravi: It's good to meet you. Have you tried this café before?
Ella: Yes, the tea here is lovely.
Mentioning a shared connection helps explain why you are meeting. A question about your surroundings gives you a natural next topic. You can use a simpler question too: “Do you come here often?”
For listening models of greetings, try the British Council's meeting new people lesson. The dialogue cards here are original examples that you can adapt to your own situation.
Keep a few grammar patterns ready
Name: I'm Leena. Avoid “Myself Leena” as a complete introduction in standard English.
Job: I'm a teacher. Use a or an before a singular countable job name: an engineer, a nurse.
Place: I'm from Pune. This normally describes your origin. “I live in Pune” tells someone where you live now.
Interest: I enjoy cooking. After enjoy, use the -ing form rather than “enjoy to cook”.
A country or city name does not usually need an article, but job names often do. If you want more practice with sentence patterns, use the grammar learning path.
Practise: choose the right detail
Imagine these three situations. Decide which detail fits each introduction best.
Answer on paper, then open the explanations below. Enable JavaScript to check answers here.
Now write an introduction for one of those situations. Keep it to three sentences and include one question. There are many correct versions; use true details rather than copying the names above.
Prepare for the answer too
Listen when the other person says their name. If you do not catch it, ask, “Could you say your name again?” You can also introduce a friend with “This is my friend, Amal.” Give the other person time to answer before asking another question.
Practise one short version aloud, then change the setting without memorising a new speech. You can rehearse suitable everyday scenarios in AI Conversations and build clearer delivery with the speaking learning path.
