How to Spell Your Name in Spanish
Spelling your own name turns alphabet knowledge into an immediate real-life skill. Say each letter clearly and use a short phrase when clarification is needed.
Learning objective
Spell your name aloud using Spanish letter names and simple clarification phrases.
To spell your name in Spanish, begin with Me llamo, meaning My name is, and then say the name. If clarification is needed, say Se escribe, meaning It is spelled, before the sequence of Spanish letter names. This gives the listener a clear signal that individual letters are coming.
The 27 Spanish letter names are a, be, ce, de, e, efe, ge, hache, i, jota, ka, ele, eme, ene, eñe, o, pe, cu, erre, ese, te, u, uve, uve doble, equis, ye, and zeta. For w, you may also hear doble uve, doble ve, or doble u, depending on the region. Learn the letters in your own name first, then expand gradually.
The phrase con means with and helps identify a tricky letter: Hugo con hache means Hugo with h, while Sofía con acento en la i means Sofía with an accent on the i. You can also use de plus a known word, such as be de Barcelona, to confirm what you said.
Ask ¿Cómo se escribe?, meaning How is it spelled?, when you need the other person to spell something. If the sequence is too quick, say Más despacio, por favor, meaning More slowly, please. Real spelling exchanges often include pauses and confirmation, so needing repetition is completely normal.
Examples
Me llamo Eva. Se escribe e, uve, a.
My name is Eva. It is spelled E, V, A.
Se escribe introduces the letter sequence.
Hugo con hache
Hugo with an h
Con hache highlights a letter that is not heard.
Be de Barcelona
B as in Barcelona
De plus a familiar word confirms the letter.
¿Cómo se escribe?
How is it spelled?
Use this question when you need a written name clarified.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Spelling Eva with the English letter names E, V, A.
- Try
- In Spanish, say e, uve, a.
A listener expecting Spanish letter names may map English names to the wrong letters or miss them entirely. This is especially likely on a phone call. Switching to Spanish names and pausing between them makes the sequence easier to follow, even when the name itself comes from another language.
Practice
Try it yourself
Introduce yourself with Me llamo and spell your first name using Spanish letter names. Add de plus a familiar place or word for one difficult letter, then ask a partner how their name is spelled.