Je m'appelle… (My Name Is)
Introduce yourself and ask others their names. Use je m'appelle, comment vous appelez-vous?, comment tu t'appelles?, enchanté(e).
A lesson of French A1 — Beginner, in Greetings & Introductions, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will introduce yourself and others in French and ask for someone's name in both formal and informal contexts.
Introducing Yourself
The most natural way to say "my name is" in French is je m'appelle — literally "I call myself."
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je m'appelle Marie. | My name is Marie. |
| Je m'appelle Thomas. | My name is Thomas. |
| Mon nom est… | My name is… (more formal/written) |
Pronunciation tip: Je m'appelle = zhuh mah-pell. The m' is a reflexive pronoun that contracts in front of appelle. Don't say je appelle — the contraction is mandatory.
Asking Someone's Name
Two versions — one formal, one informal:
| Register | French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Comment vous appelez-vous? | koh-mohn voo zah-play voo | What is your name? |
| Informal | Comment tu t'appelles? | koh-mohn tü tah-pell | What's your name? |
| Very informal | Tu t'appelles comment? | tü tah-pell koh-mohn | What's your name? |
The formal version inverts the subject and verb (vous appelez-vous?) — this inversion signals a question in French.
Responding Politely
After introductions, use these phrases:
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Enchanté(e) | ohn-shohn-tay | Pleased to meet you |
| Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer | rah-vee duh voo rohn-kohn-tray | Delighted to meet you (formal) |
| Ravi(e) de te rencontrer | rah-vee duh tuh rohn-kohn-tray | Delighted to meet you (informal) |
Note on agreement: Enchanté is masculine; a woman introduces herself saying (with an extra -e, though the pronunciation is the same). Same with .