How to Talk About Yourself in English [Successfully]

If you are an English as an additional language learner you have probably needed to talk about yourself in English many times.

Talking about ourselves in English is one of the first things we do when we meet someone we have never met before.

Even when you talk to familiar people (friends, acquaintances, co-workers, etc.) you need to speak about yourself in English.

So in this article, you will find excellent examples of questions that may come up during this type of conversation and questions you may use when answering them. Keep reading!

How do I Start Talking About Myself?

The most prototypical situation in which we need to talk about ourselves in English is when we get to know someone.

In this case, the person probably does not know anything about us.

First things first, you should introduce yourself in English by saying your most basic personal information

Basic personal information may include your name, your age, your nationality, the place where you live, your occupation, and possibly other things.

After sharing this type of information, and depending on the flow of the conversation, you might add more details.

How to Introduce Yourself in English

Here’s how to talk about yourself in English when you need to give someone basic personal information.

QUESTION	EXAMPLE ANSWER
What’s your name?	My name is Flávio.
How old are you?	I’m 32 years old.
Where are you from?	I’m from Brazil/I’m Brazilian.
Where do you live?	I live in São Paulo.
What do you do?	I’m a blogger.

How To Talk About Yourself in English

When you get to the point in which you have told the person all your basic personal information, if the conversation flows well, you might want to get into more details about your life.

Here’s how to talk about other aspects of your life in English.

QUESTION	EXAMPLE ANSWER
What’s your routine like?	I wake up at 7 am, have breakfast, brush my teeth and take a shower. At 8 am, I start work. I work for 6 hours every weekday. At 2 pm, I have lunch. At 3 pm, I start studying. I stop studying at 6 pm. Then, I go running for 1 hour. In the evening, I have dinner, take a shower and watch tv shows or read for a while before I go to bed.
What do you like to do on weekends?	On weekends I like to sleep late. I usually get up at 11 am, have breakfast, brush my teeth and take a shower. I like to watch movies, tv shows, read books, and go out with my family and my friends. I usually go to parks, museums, shopping malls, the cinema, the theater, etc.
Who do you live with?	I live with my mother, my father, and my sister.
How many siblings do you have?	I only have a sister.
When’s your birthday?	My birthday is on September 12.
What’s your zodiac sign?	I’m a Virgo.
Are you married?	No, I’m single.
Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend?	I have a boyfriend.
Do you have any children?	No, I don’t.
Do you have any pets?	Yes, I do. I have a dog.
What’s your dog’s name?	His name is Harry.
What’s your phone number?	It’s…
What’s your e-mail address?	It’s…
What’s your favorite food?	I love sushi and sashimi.
What type of music do you like?	I love pop music.
What type of movie do you like?	I like horror movies.
Do you have a nickname?	Yes, I do. Close friends call me Flá.
Do you speak any other languages?	Yes, I do. I speak Portuguese and Spanish.