How to Ask ‘What Is Your Name?’ in French and Other Introductions

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Asking “What is your name?” in French might be an opening to your first conversation with a French speaker if you’re taking a class, studying with a tutor, or meeting a new neighbor. Or, you might need to answer this question in a more formal situation such as when applying for a visa, filling out a form, or getting through passport control. 

Learn how to ask and answer questions about names and other introductions and speak French with confidence.

How to ask ‘What is your name?’ in French in formal settings

If you’re having an official conversation, such as in a government office, a court, with a police officer, or going through passport control at the airport, you can safely assume that a formal register will be expected. 

You could use formal speech in other settings as well, until you get to know a person well. It’s fairly common that your first conversation using basic French words, even with a peer, would use the formal, or vous (you) form. If you’re asking more than one person, you’ll always use the vous forms, since this is also used as the plural “you.” 

You may hear “What is your name?” in French a few different ways, depending if the speaker formed the question using inversion or not. Inversion is when the French verb comes before the subject and is joined with a hyphen. The meaning is the same when the subject comes before the verb. 

How to say ‘My name is’ in French in formal settings

To answer “What is your name?” in French, you would simply say, “Je m’appelle…” and say your name. The phrase je m’appelle literally translates to “I call myself.” It’s a very common way to give your name, but not a word-for-word translation from English. However, there are other ways to express the same idea. 

For several specifics and to show your identification, here are some helpful phrases. 

How to ask ‘What is your name?’ in French in casual settings

In casual settings, perhaps in a class of peers, with children, or even with pets, you would be able to use the less formal, or tu (you) form. You can take your cues from the situation, listening to how others are speaking. If in doubt, it makes sense to stick with formal language to start off. People may give you permission to tutoyer (use tu to address someone).  

How to say ‘My name is’ in French in casual settings

Once you know how to say hello in French, you’re ready to introduce yourself. Just like in formal situations, you could simply use je m’appelle and your name. These are some other ways to express your name in French.

Remember, your name doesn’t translate to a different language. You don’t have to use the “French” version of your name, or even pronounce it differently, but in case you need to spell it out, it’s a good idea to know the French alphabet. 

>>The difference between formal and informal is essential to learning French.

How to introduce another person in French

To introduce another person by name, or by their relationship to you, several expressions work in either formal or informal contexts. Remember to use vous if you’re introducing them to a group. 

Your first conversation in French 

Once you’ve mastered greetings and exchanging names in French, continue the conversation with the person you’ve just met. Much of small talk and first conversations are formulaic questions and answers that are easy for beginners to learn and practice, but with numerous variations.

‘Nice to meet you’ in French

A polite way to say “pleased to meet you” in French is enchanté/enchantée. This translates to “charmed” or “delighted.” It’s a traditional response when meeting someone for the first time that can be used in either formal or informal contexts. 

The extra “e” at the end is a result of French grammar rules about grammatical gender. It’s silent in spoken French, but women and girls would include this extra “e” in writing. The word enchantée is a French adjective, and in this case, the person speaking is the noun with which the adjective must agree. 

It’s nice to know a variety of ways to express the same idea, so your French sounds natural. Other ways to say “nice to meet you” include:

‘How are you?’ in French 

An excellent way to start any conversation is by asking, “How are you?” which can be expressed with the question Ça va ? (How are you?). The answer is just as simple! You can simply reply, Ça va ! (Fine/It’s good) and move on with the conversation. With just a bit more practice, you’ll know how to use ça va and other French expressions for discussing your day. 

Exchanging other information

With a new friend or colleague, you may want to exchange some other personal information, or you might be asked if you’re applying for a class or official document. Here are a few helpful expressions—those that use the vous forms are either formal or plural, while those that use tu forms are for more casual situations. 

French naming conventions

French naming conventions aren’t that different from those in the United States, but one thing you may notice is that French speakers tend to capitalize their entire last name, or surname, both on legal documents and in less formal writing, such as Monique CABREL or Philippe DUBOIS. 

(False friend alert: The French word surnom doesn’t mean “surname,” but “nickname” or “term of endearment.” For surname, or last name, you’ll use nom de famille, or even simply nom.) 

Hyphenated names are quite common, including in the prénom and the nom de famille. Women may choose to hyphenate when marrying, adopt the husband’s name, or keep her own family name. 

Sometimes children are given a deuxième prénom (middle name) or more than one. Most names now are chosen based on their appeal, but French government officials can reject a name that might cause a child ridicule or is considered rude. 

In France, parents aren’t allowed to use characters or accents that aren’t in the French alphabet, such as the Spanish ñ. 

Master your first French conversation with Rosetta Stone

With Rosetta Stone, you’ll use engaging and proven methods to learn many parts of conversation. Beyond asking “What is your name?” in French, you’ll learn how to say “I love you” in French and other common phrases before quickly moving on to more advanced interactions—such as phrases for travel and everyday interactions. 

The Rosetta Stone app includes a helpful Phrasebook, stories, and audio companion that will help you build your confidence to engage with native speakers.