1.3: Comment se présenter
- Page ID
- 157780
In this section, you will learn how to:
- Introduce yourself
- Tell people your name
- Ask other people for their names
- Introduce other people to each other
Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.
On étudie !
Les présentations
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
|
Comment t'appelles-tu ? (informel) |
What is your name? |
|
Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formel) |
What is your name? |
|
Je m'appelle... Moi, c'est... |
My name is... |
— Comment t'appelles-tu ? (What's your name? Literally: How do you call yourself?)
— Je m'appelle Frank. (My name is Frank.)
— Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal) (What's your name? Literally: How do you call yourself?)
— Je m'appelle Danielle. (My name is Danielle.)
Here are some common variations:
— Comment tu t'appelles ? (informal) (What's your name? Literally: How do you call yourself?)
— Moi, c'est Guillaume. (Me, It's Guillaume.)
— Quel est ton nom ? (informal) (What's your name?)
— Isabelle. (Isabelle.)
— Quel est votre nom ? (formal) (What's your name?)
— Je m'appelle Gaston. (My name is Gaston.)
Use the following expressions to introduce people and respond to introductions:
| Registres | Français | Anglais |
|---|---|---|
|
formal |
Je vous présente... |
I would like to introduce you to... I would like you to meet... This is... |
|
informal |
Je te présente... |
I would like to introduce you to... I would like you to meet... This is... |
|
- |
Enchanté/Enchantée. Moi de même. |
Nice to meet you. (masculin/feminine forms) Nice to meet you too. |
Study the Quizlet vocabulary flashcards. Listen and repeat the French pronunciation.
This is how you ask for the name of someone you are not speaking to directly along with the appropriate reply:
— Comment s'appelle-t-il ? (What is his name?)
— Il s'appelle Guillaume. (His name is Guillaume.)
— Comment s'appelle-t-elle ? (What is her name?)
— Elle s'appelle Valérie. (Her name is Valérie.)
If you are not sure who it is, you say, Est-ce que c'est... ?
— Est-ce que c'est Jacqueline ? (Is it, is that Jacqueline?)
— Oui, c'est Jacqueline. (Yes, it's Jacqueline.)
— Est-ce que c'est Véronique ? (Is it, is that Véronique?)
— Non, c'est Magali. (No, it's Magali.)
Watch this video tutorial for more about How to ask someone's name in French.
Watch these videos to practice introducing yourself to others:
- Je me présente.
- Introducing yourself in French. (This video is a little advanced for you at this point, but it is good for you to hear authentic French. Practice your pronunciation with this video)
On pratique !
In general, tu is used with friends, family, and children. Vous is used to express politeness, formality, and respect. Vous is the form of address used for all formal situations. However, many people will still use the tu form when they first meet. But when in doubt, use vous.
Learn more about the differences between tu and vous by watching these video tutorials:
Activité A
Compare these sentences using tu and vous. What differences do you notice?
| Formel (vous) | Familier, informel (tu) |
|---|---|
| Comment vous appelez-vous ? | Comment t’appelles-tu ? |
| Comment allez-vous ? | Comment vas-tu ? |
| Bien. Et vous ? | Bien. Et toi ? |
| S'il vous plaît. | S'il te plaît. |
| Je vous en prie. | Je t'en prie. |
| Vous êtes d'où ? | Tu es d'où ? |
| Quelle est votre nationalité ? | Quelle est ta nationalité ? |
Activité B
Les salutations formelles. Using the formal dialogue suggestions below, imagine that you are formally greeting another person. Complete the dialogue by stating your name, asking about his/hers, asking how s/he is doing, and saying good-bye.
– Bonjour, (Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle). Je m’appelle ________. Et vous, comment vous appelez-vous ?
– Moi, je m’appelle ________. Comment allez-vous ?
– Je vais (très bien, bien, pas mal, mal), merci. Et vous ?
– ________ , merci. Au revoir, (Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle)
- ________ , (Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle).
Activité C
Les salutations familières. Using the informal dialogue suggestions below, imagine that you are informally greeting another person. Complete the dialogue by stating your name, asking about his/hers, asking how s/he is doing, and saying good-bye.
– Salut, je m’appelle ________. Et toi, comment t’appelles-tu ?
– Moi, je m’appelle ________.
– Comment vas-tu ? (Comment ça va ?)
– Je vais ( très bien, pas mal, mal). Et toi ?
– Je vais ( très bien, pas mal, mal), merci.
– Au revoir !
- ________ !
In France, friends and family members exchange kisses on alternating cheeks to say hello and goodbye. This action is expressed by the French phrase faire la bise. While the number of kisses exchanged varies by region, the most common practice is two kisses, one on each cheek, although it is not uncommon to exchange three or even four. In an informal situation, young adults will most often faire la bise. In a formal situation, it is necessary to shake hands with everyone. A bise is always given to children. Contrary to the hug in the United States, kisses are exchanged with friends and family members that one sees everyday. In France, hugging is reserved for more intimate (romantic) relationships.