volať sa + Name

Saying Your Name

Level 1

Say Volám sa … to give your name. Ask Ako sa voláš? (informal) or Ako sa voláte? (polite).

How It Works

The forms follow the -ám verbs (see prítomný čas na -ám):

  • volám sa, voláš sa, volá sa
  • voláme sa, voláte sa, volajú sa

Asking. Ako sa voláš? to someone you call ty, Ako sa voláte? to someone you call vy (see tykanie a vykanie). You can also ask about other people and things: Ako sa volá tvoj brat? Ako sa volá tá ulica?

The name is in the nominative, the dictionary form: Volám sa Peter.

Where sa goes. Sa is unstressed, so it cannot start a sentence. It sits right after the first word or phrase (see príklonky na druhom mieste and zvratné slovesá so sa). You may also hear Moje meno je … (My name is …), but Volám sa … is the everyday way.

A natural reply is Teší ma (Nice to meet you).

Examples (6)

  1. Volám sa Jana.

    My name is Jana.

    Word by Word: I-call myself Jana.

  2. Ako sa voláš?

    What's your name?

    Informal, to someone you call ty.

  3. Ako sa voláte?

    What's your name?

    Polite, to someone you call vy.

  4. Môj brat sa volá Tomáš.

    My brother's name is Tomáš.

    Sa comes after the first phrase, môj brat.

  5. Ako sa volá tá ulica?

    What's that street called?

    Volať sa also names places and things.

  6. – Volám sa Peter. – Teší ma.

    – My name is Peter. – Nice to meet you.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out sa.

    Volám Jana.
    Volám sa Jana.

    Without sa, volať means "to call" someone, so the sentence no longer gives your name. Use volám sa.

  • Starting the sentence with sa.

    Sa volám Jana.
    Volám sa Jana.

    Sa is unstressed and cannot be the first word. Put it after the first word or phrase.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

volať sa + NameLevel 1Saying Your Name

Learn This First

Before Saying Your Name, learn Present Verbs in -ám. volať sa follows the -ám pattern: volám sa, voláš sa.

Words in This Pattern

volám savolať