Introduce Yourself and Ask Someone’s Name

Natalia arrives at a coworking space in Lyon for the first time. At reception, she meets Thomas.

Full Transcript

Natalia: Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Natalia.

Thomas: Bonjour ! Moi, c’est Thomas. Enchanté.

Natalia: Enchantée !

Thomas: Natalia… ça s’écrit comment ?

Natalia: N-A-T-A-L-I-A.

Thomas: Parfait, merci !

English Translation

Natalia: Hello! My name is Natalia.

Thomas: Hello! I’m Thomas. Nice to meet you.

Natalia: Nice to meet you!

Thomas: Natalia… how do you spell that?

Natalia: N-A-T-A-L-I-A

Thomas: Perfect, thank you!

Question 1

What is the woman’s name?

1. Emma

2. Natalia

3. Sophie

Answer: b

Question 2

Why does Thomas ask:

Ça s’écrit comment ?

1. He wants Natalia to spell her name.

2. He wants Natalia’s phone number.

3. He does not speak French.

Answer: a

Micro-task

Someone says their name, but you are not sure how to spell it.

What can you ask?

1. Ça va ?

2. Ça s’écrit comment ?

3. Bonne journée !

Answer: b

Core 5

Je m’appelle…

Pronunciation: /ʒə ma.pɛl/
Meaning: My name is…

Example:

Je m’appelle Natalia.

Comment vous vous appelez ?

Pronunciation: /kɔ.mɑ̃ vu vu.za.ple/
Meaning: What is your name? — polite

Informal, everyday speech: Vous vous appelez comment ?

Explanation: Both are correct. The second one is very common in everyday spoken French.

Example:

Bonjour. Comment vous vous appelez ? Vous vous appelez comment ?

Enchanté / Enchantée !

Pronunciation: /ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te/
Meaning: Nice to meet you!

Enchanté — if you are a man.

Enchantée — if you are a woman.

Example:

— Je m’appelle Sophie.
— Enchanté !

Ça s’écrit comment ?

Pronunciation: /sa se.kʁi kɔ.mɑ̃/
Meaning: How do you spell that?

Example:

— Je m’appelle Jeremy.
— Ça s’écrit comment ?

Moi, c’est…

Pronunciation: /mwa sɛ/
Meaning: I’m… / As for me, I’m…

Moi, c'est... is very common in everyday conversation.

Example:

Moi, c’est Thomas.

Comment tu t’appelles ?

Pronunciation: /kɔ.mɑ̃ ty ta.pɛl/
Meaning: What’s your name? — informal

Example:

Salut ! Comment tu t’appelles ?

Pardon ?

Pronunciation: /paʁ.dɔ̃/
Meaning: Sorry? / Pardon?

Example:

Pardon ? Vous pouvez répéter ?

Merci !

Pronunciation: /mɛʁ.si/
Meaning: Thank you!

Example:

Parfait, merci !

Camille: James… Ça s'écrit comment ?

James: J-A-M-E-S.

Camille: Pardon ? J-A-M-E-S ?

James: Oui, J-A-M-E-S.

Camille: Parfait, merci !

James arrives at a professional event in Lyon and meets Camille at the registration desk.

Camille: Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Camille.

James: Bonjour. Moi, c’est James. Enchanté.

Camille: Enchantée ! James… Ça s’écrit comment ?

James: J-A-M-E-S.

Camille: Pardon, vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?

James: Oui. J-A-M-E-S.

Camille: Parfait, merci !

James: Merci. À bientôt !

Quick Check

1. What is the man’s name?

2. Why does Camille ask him to repeat?

Answers:

1. James.

2. She wants to hear the spelling again.

There are two very useful ways to introduce yourself.

Neutral and very common

Je m’appelle Natalia.

Natural in conversation

Moi, c’est Natalia.

To ask someone’s name politely:

Comment vous vous appelez ?

With a friend or in an informal situation:

Comment tu t’appelles ?

If you do not understand the name, you do not need to panic.

Use:

Pardon ?

or:

Vous pouvez répéter ?

And if the person is speaking too quickly:

Plus lentement, s’il vous plaît.

These phrases are useful far beyond introductions.

Today, you only need one main pattern:

s’appeler — “to be called”

Je m’appelle Natalia.

Tu t’appelles comment ?

Comment vous vous appelez ?

Notice the small changes:

je → m’appelle

tu → t’appelles

vous → vous appelez

You do not need to memorise the full verb table now.

Learn the expressions as complete chunks.

Pronunciation Focus

Listen to:

Comment vous vous appelez ?

The two vous are correct.

Say the whole phrase together:

/kɔ.mɑ̃ vu vu.za.ple/

Start slowly, then say it naturally.

Build a simple introduction.

Step 1 — Greet

Bonjour !

Step 2 — Give your name

Je m’appelle + name.

Example:

Je m’appelle Natalia.

Step 3 — Ask

Comment vous vous appelez ?

Step 4 — React

Enchanté ! / Enchantée !

Build It

Complete:

Bonjour ! Je m’appelle __________.

Et vous, comment ____________________ ?

Enchanté(e) !

Now use your real name.

Exercise 1 — Choose the Right Phrase

1. You want to say your name.

2. Je m’appelle Lucas.

3. Ça va, Lucas.

4. You did not understand the name.

5. Bonne journée !

6. Vous pouvez répéter ?

7. You want someone to spell their name.

8. Ça s’écrit comment ?

9. Comment allez-vous ?

Answers: 1a, 2b, 3a

Exercise 2 — Complete the Dialogue

Use:

m’appelle — appelez — enchanté — répéter

— Bonjour. Je __________ Daniel.

— Bonjour ! Comment vous vous __________ ?

— Sophie.

— __________ !

— Enchantée !

— Pardon, vous pouvez __________ ?

Answers:

m’appelle — appelez — enchanté — répéter

Exercise 3 — Build the Conversation

Put the lines in the correct order.

1. Enchantée !

2. Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Emma.

3. Moi, c’est Sarah.

4. Comment vous vous appelez ?

Correct order:

b → d → c → a

Now cover the lesson and introduce yourself without reading.

If you remember only five phrases, remember these:

Je m’appelle…

My name is…

Comment vous vous appelez ?

What is your name?

Enchanté / Enchantée !

Nice to meet you!

Ça s’écrit comment ?

How do you spell that?

Vous pouvez répéter ?

Can you repeat?

Download the lesson files

Save these resources to keep practicing offline.

La baguette

The baguette is one of the most recognisable everyday foods associated with France.

In a French bakery, you will often hear:

Bonjour !

Une baguette, s’il vous plaît.

A useful word to recognise:

une baguette

French culture is often discovered through very ordinary daily interactions, even buying bread.

Your Mission

Record a 15–20 second introduction.

Imagine that you meet someone for the first time.

Include:

1. a greeting;

2. your name;

3. a question asking the other person’s name;

4. Enchanté(e);

5. one clarification phrase.

Example

Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Alex.

Et vous, comment vous vous appelez ?

Enchanté !

Pardon, vous pouvez répéter ?

Extra Challenge

Spell your first name in French.

Try to do the whole introduction without reading.

I can introduce myself.

Yes, on my own.
Yes, with a little help.
Not yet.

I can ask someone’s name.

Yes, on my own.
Yes, with a little help.
Not yet.

I can ask someone to repeat.

Yes, on my own.
Yes, with a little help.
Not yet.

I can spell my name.

Yes, on my own.
Yes, with a little help.
Not yet.