French - Meeting New People

Je viens de ___.

I'm from ___.

Meaning: I'm from ___.

When to use: Use this to say the city, region or country you come from. Add a place after de: Je viens de Paris. For countries that require contractions, use du or des: Je viens du Portugal, Je viens des États-Unis.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget the preposition (de/du/des). Remember Je viens de + place, or Je viens du (de + le) / des.

Enchanté.

Nice to meet you.

Meaning: Nice to meet you.

When to use: A polite phrase to say when you meet someone for the first time. You may hear or write enchanté (masc.) or enchantée (fem.).

Tip: Watch gender agreement in writing/speech: a woman may say enchantée. In speech the form sounds the same.

Enchanté aussi.

Nice to meet you too.

Meaning: Nice to meet you too.

When to use: Use this response when someone says Enchanté. It politely returns the greeting.

Tu connais ___ comment ?

How do you know ___?

Meaning: How do you know ___?

When to use: Use this informal question to ask how someone knows a mutual person: Tu connais Marie comment ? In formal speech use Vous connaissez ___ comment ?

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the wrong word order (e.g., 'Comment tu connais ... ?'). The natural French order is: Tu connais ___ comment ?

On se connaît de ___.

We know each other from ___.

Meaning: We know each other from ___.

When to use: Explain the context where you met someone: On se connaît du travail, On se connaît de l'école, On se connaît d'une soirée.

Tu es nouveau ici ?

Are you new here?

Meaning: Are you new here?

When to use: Ask this to find out if someone just arrived at a place. Use nouveau for a man, nouvelle for a woman. For formality, say Vous êtes nouveau/nouvelle ici ?

Tip: Remember to change nouveau → nouvelle for a female speaker or when referring to a woman.

Je suis nouveau ici.

I'm new here.

Meaning: I'm new here.

When to use: Say this when you want to explain that you have just arrived or started in a place: Je suis nouveau ici (man) or Je suis nouvelle ici (woman).

Désolé, c’était quoi ton prénom déjà ?

Sorry, what was your name again?

Meaning: Sorry, what was your name again?

When to use: Use this friendly phrase if you forgot or didn't catch someone's name. In formal situations say: Désolé, c’était quoi votre prénom déjà ?

Je me présente.

Let me introduce myself.

Meaning: Let me introduce myself.

When to use: Start a self-introduction: Je me présente, Anna. Then add your name and a short detail.

Je crois qu'on ne se connaît pas.

I don't think we've met.

Meaning: I don't think we've met.

When to use: Say this politely when you suspect you haven't met someone before. It's friendly and useful in social events.

On s'est déjà rencontrés ?

Have we met before?

Meaning: Have we met before?

When to use: Ask this to check if you and the other person have met previously: On s'est déjà rencontrés ?

Je te présente ___.

I'd like you to meet ___.

Meaning: I'd like you to meet ___.

When to use: Introduce one person to another in a friendly setting: Je te présente Marc. In formal/group contexts say Je vous présente ___.

Ton nom, ça s'écrit comment ?

How do you spell your name?

Meaning: How do you spell your name?

When to use: Use this to ask for the spelling of a name: Ton nom, ça s'écrit comment ? For formality say Votre nom, ça s'écrit comment ?