When you meet someone for the first time, of course one of the first questions you’ll need to ask is “What is your name?” In French, we have a variety of ways to ask and respond to this question, along with several other pleasantries you’ll want to know as you have these first encounters.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the basics of how to introduce yourself in French!
This article is brought to you by LingoCulture, Where you can get unlimited private French classes via Zoom with native teachers for a flat monthly rate. It’s the closest thing to immersion you can get without living in a French-speaking country. Click here to learn more.
What is your name? in French
Comment t’appelles-tu ?, Comment vous appelez-vous ?
The most classic and formal way to say “What is your name?” in Frenchis “Comment t’appelles-tu ?” or “Comment vous appelez-vous ?” Both of these questions translate literally to “How do you call yourself?” in English, no matter the word order.
The first question, using “tu”, is used when you are speaking to someone your age or younger, or when you are in an informal situation, such as at a friend’s party. The second question, using “vous”, is used when you are speaking to someone older than you, or when you are in a formal situation, such as a work event. This question can also be used to ask a group of people for all of their names.
Both of these questions can be asked in a variety of ways, with the wording above being the most formal option. As it’s informal, the question “Comment t’appelles-tu ?” could be rearranged to “Comment tu t’appelles ?” or even “Tu t’appelles comment ?” Each different order of words signals a different level of formality, with the last option being the most casual. The reordering of words does not change the question’s meaning, but does give off an air of nonchalance. Note that the formal question “Comment vous appelez-vous ?” can sometimes be altered to “Comment vous vous appelez ?”, but is rarely heard as “Vous vous appelez comment ?”
- Bonjour ! Comment t’appelles-tu ?– Hello! What is your name?
Quel est ton nom, Quel est votre nom ?
Our second way to ask for someone’s name in French is “Quel est ton nom ?”, which literally translates to “What is your name?” in English. As with the first question, you can use “ton” in an informal situation and “Quel est votre nom ?” for more formality. In a situation where you need to ask a group of people for all of their names, you can pluralize the question as “Quels sont vos noms ?”.
This question is less common than “Comment t’appelles-tu ?”, but is still easily recognizable and straightforward.
- Quel est votre nom ?/ Marc. – What’s your name?/ Marc.
T’es qui ?
Our final and briefest way to ask for someone’s name in French is “T’es qui ?”, literally meaning “Who are you?” in English. This short and extremely informal option is best used in a setting among friends and in a friendly tone, as it can sound quite aggressive without the proper inflection. For a formal version, go with “Qui êtes-vous ?”
- Salut Isabelle, je vois ton nouveau pote ! T’es qui, nouveau pote ? – Hey, Isabelle, I see your new friend! Who are you, new friend?
My name is… in French
Je m’appelle…
Our tried-and-true way to say “My name is” in Frenchis “Je m’appelle.” You may notice that this structure closely mirrors the structure of the question “Comment t’appelles-tu ?”, and it’s true that these phrases are often learned as a pair! As “Comment t’appelles-tu ?” literally means “How do you call yourself?”, “Je m’appelle…” literally means “I call myself…” This answer can be used in an informal or formal situation.
- Bonjour ! Comment t’appelles-tu ? / Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Céline. – Hello! What is your name? / My name is Céline.
Mon nom est…
Another way to say“My name is” in Frenchis “Mon nom est.” It’s a direct translation between French and English, and is often the response paired with the question “Quel est ton nom ?” Like its paired question, this response is less common than the classic “je m’appelle.”
- Quel est votre nom ? / Mon nom estMarc. – What is your name? / My name isMarc.
Something important to note with this response is the difference between “nom” and “prénom”. In certain situations, someone may ask you for your last name (“nom” or “nom de famille”) or your first name (“prénom”). If it is not clear which name or names the person is asking for, go with your gut feeling!
Je suis…
A third and somewhat common way to introduce yourself in French is with the phrase “je suis,” which literally means “I am.” This simple phrase followed by your first name can be an easier way to rememberhow to introduce yourself in French, as you’re probably already familiar with it. Be aware that this method may come across informal in certain situations, so use your best judgment.
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? / Je suisM. Dusulier. – What is your name? / I amMr. Dusulier.
Moi, c’est…
Our last and least formal way to say “My name is” in Frenchis “moi, c’est” followed by your name. This phrase, literally meaning “Me, it’s…” is a common way for people to introduce themselves in informal and friendly settings. It’s often followed by the question “Et toi ?” (“And you?”) if the person you are talking to has not yet introduced themselves.
- Moi, c’estBernadette. Et toi ?– My name isBernadette. And you?
Other pleasantries in French
Nice to meet you: Enchanté
Once you’ve got the initial question and answer under your belt, you’ll want to add in a common and expected pleasantry: the phrase“nice to meet you.” In French, this idea is expressed in a single word: “enchanté.” Since it’s an adjective you’ll need to add an “e” if the speaker is feminine, to “enchantée.”When spoken though, both forms of this adjective sound the same, so if you’re not writing it, don’t worry about agreement!
Greetings and farewells
Of course, the exchange of names between two people meeting for the first time does not exist in a vacuum! You’ll want to be able to at least say hello and goodbye to the person you are meeting, as well as asking them how they are. While most people are familiar with the classic “Bonjour” and “Au revoir,” there are numerous ways to switch up your vocabulary and sound more fluent!
For more options on how to say “hi” in Frenchand “how are you” in French, check out our dedicated posts: 16 Easy French Greetingsand Ten more expressions to ask “How are you?” in French. You may also be interested in our related post with 12 ways to say “Thank you” in French.
Conclusion
In this post, we’ve covered ways to ask and answer the fundamental question “What is your name?” in French, as well as a few other pleasantries you may need in a conversation with someone that you’re meeting for the first time.
With questions and responses for both informal and formal situations, you now know how to introduce yourself in Frenchwith a variety of phrases for any situation!
