The first time I tried to introduce myself in France, I was in a tiny bakery in Lyon, sweating over a baguette. The baker asked me something that sounded like komɔ̃tapɛltu and my brain just… blue-screened. I panicked, answered with bonjour /bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/ — hello, and accidentally re-helloed her three times instead of telling her my name.
Later, on the tram, a student asked me Tu t’appelles comment ? /ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃/ — what’s your name? I proudly replied Je suis le yak. /ʒə sɥi lə jak/ — I am the yak. He laughed, but I could tell it sounded more like a superhero announcement than a normal introduction.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to say “My name is…” and “What’s your name?” in French in a way that sounds natural in France: formal, informal, and everything in between. You’ll also understand why je m’appelle /ʒə ma.pɛl/ — my name is — literally means “I call myself,” and how not to accidentally sound rude with tu /ty/ vs vous /vu/.
Quick Primer: Names, Tu vs Vous, And This Verb That Refers To Itself
Before we collect phrases, a few ground rules.
First, a couple of key words:
- un prénom /œ̃ pʁe.nɔ̃/ — a first name
- un nom de famille /œ̃ nɔ̃ də fa.mij/ — a family name, surname
In French, the most standard way to say your name is:
- je m’appelle /ʒə ma.pɛl/ — my name is, literally “I call myself”
It uses a reflexive verb:
- s’appeler /sa.pə.le/ — to be called, to call oneself
When you ask someone’s name, you have to choose:
- tu /ty/ — informal “you” (friends, kids, people your age in casual settings)
- vous /vu/ — formal or plural “you” (polite, professional, or when in doubt)
So the whole game is: pick tu or vous, then choose the right pattern of s’appeler to ask or answer.
Core “My Name Is” Phrases
Let’s start with how to talk about your own name. Some options are more natural than others.
The Main One: Je M’appelle
On first mention:
- je m’appelle /ʒə ma.pɛl/ — my name is
This is the default, most natural way to introduce yourself in almost any context.
| French | IPA | English |
| Je m’appelle Marie. | ʒə ma.pɛl ma.ʁi | My name is Marie. |
| Je m’appelle Thomas. | ʒə ma.pɛl tɔ.ma | My name is Thomas. |
You can also put your full name:
- Je m’appelle Marie Dubois. /ʒə ma.pɛl ma.ʁi dy.bwa/ — My name is Marie Dubois.
Other Ways To Say Your Name
There are a few alternatives. Think of them as “extra tools,” not replacements for je m’appelle.
| French | IPA | English | Register / Note |
| Je m’appelle Marie. | ʒə ma.pɛl ma.ʁi | My name is Marie. | Most natural, neutral |
| Je suis Marie. | ʒə sɥi ma.ʁi | I am Marie. | Simple, a bit more casual |
| Moi, c’est Marie. | mwa sɛ ma.ʁi | I’m Marie. | Very casual, conversational |
| Mon nom est Marie. | mɔ̃ nɔ̃ ɛ ma.ʁi | My name is Marie. | Rare in speech, more formal/written |
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
Many English speakers overuse mon nom est /mɔ̃ nɔ̃ ɛ/ because it looks like “my name is.” In real French conversations in France, je m’appelle is far more common and sounds more natural. Use mon nom est only when you really need to highlight the name itself, or in very formal written contexts.
Je suis /ʒə sɥi/ is fine when you’ve already been introduced or in fast, casual situations:
Someone calls your name in a waiting room:
Marie ?
Oui, je suis Marie. /wi ʒə sɥi ma.ʁi/ — Yes, I’m Marie.
How To Ask “What’s Your Name?” (Formal And Informal)
This is where I used to panic the most. The trick is: for adults you don’t know, start with vous. For kids, friends, classmates, or party people your age, go with tu.
Formal: Comment Vous Appelez-Vous ?
First mention:
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? /kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu/ — What’s your name? (formal, polite)
This works in a shop, at reception, at the doctor’s office, with older people, in job interviews — anywhere you want to sound respectful.
| French | IPA | English |
| Bonjour, comment vous appelez-vous ? | bɔ̃.ʒuʁ kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu | Hello, what’s your name? |
| Excusez-moi, comment vous appelez-vous ? | ɛk.sky.ze.mwa kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu | Excuse me, what’s your name? |
You’ll often pair it with bonjour /bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/ — hello, and enchanté(e) /ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te/ — nice to meet you.
Informal: Comment Tu T’appelles ? And Friends
Informal versions use tu /ty/.
On first mention:
- Comment tu t’appelles ? /kɔ.mɑ̃ ty tapɛl/ — What’s your name? (informal)
- Tu t’appelles comment ? /ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃/ — And what’s your name? (very common, informal)
You may also see the more textbook-style:
- Comment t’appelles-tu ? /kɔ.mɑ̃ tapɛl ty/ — What’s your name? (correct, but a bit formal/“schoolbook” in everyday speech)
All three are understandable. In real life:
- With friends, classmates, people your age: Comment tu t’appelles ? or Tu t’appelles comment ? is what you’ll hear most.
| French | IPA | English |
| Comment tu t’appelles ? | kɔ.mɑ̃ ty tapɛl | What’s your name? (informal) |
| Tu t’appelles comment ? | ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃ | What’s your name? (informal, very natural) |
| Comment t’appelles-tu ? | kɔ.mɑ̃ tapɛl ty | What’s your name? (more formal / textbook) |
Very Informal Variants
Among friends or in very relaxed situations, you might also hear:
- C’est quoi ton nom ? /se kwa tɔ̃ nɔ̃/ — What’s your name? (literally “What’s your name?”)
- T’es qui ? /te ki/ — Who are you? (super casual, can sound rude if your tone isn’t friendly)
As a learner in France, you’re safe sticking to:
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal)
- Comment tu t’appelles ? / Tu t’appelles comment ? (informal)
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
A classic learner mistake is to forget tu/vous and say Comment tu t’appelles ? to a serious-looking receptionist in a suit. You won’t go to French prison, but it can sound too familiar.
If you’re not sure, default to Comment vous appelez-vous ?. French people will often say “On peut se tutoyer ? /ɔ̃ pø sə ty.twa.je/** — Can we use tu? — if they want to switch to informal.
Tiny Grammar: S’Appeler In The Present Tense
Good news: there’s really only one verb you need for this topic.
On first mention:
- s’appeler /sa.pə.le/ — to be called, to call oneself
Here’s its present tense with je /ʒə/ — I, tu /ty/ — you (informal), vous /vu/ — you (formal or plural.
| Person | French | IPA | English |
| je | je m’appelle | ʒə ma.pɛl | I am called / my name is |
| tu | tu t’appelles | ty tapɛl | you are called / your name is (informal) |
| il / elle | il s’appelle / elle s’appelle | il sa.pɛl / ɛl sa.pɛl | his name is / her name is |
| nous | nous nous appelons | nu nu.za.pə.lɔ̃ | our name is (we are called) |
| vous | vous vous appelez | vu vu.za.pə.le | your name is (formal or plural) |
| ils / elles | ils s’appellent / elles s’appellent | il sa.pɛl / ɛl sa.pɛl | their names are |
Two little things to notice:
- The double “l” in appelle /a.pɛl/ gives you the open /ɛ/ sound, like in English “bed,” not “apple.”
- The m’, t’, s’, nous, vous are reflexive bits; literally “I call myself, you call yourself.”
You don’t need to explain that when you speak; you just need to remember je m’appelle and tu t’appelles / vous vous appelez.
Putting It Together In Real Introductions
Now for the part where you actually sound like a person.
Formal Script (Safe For Polite Situations)
French first, then IPA, then English.
Bonjour, je m’appelle Marie Dupont.
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ʒə ma.pɛl ma.ʁi dy.pɔ̃/
Hello, my name is Marie Dupont.
Enchantée, je suis le docteur Martin. Comment vous appelez-vous ?
/ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te ʒə sɥi lə dɔk.tœʁ maʁ.tɛ̃ kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu/
Nice to meet you, I’m Doctor Martin. What’s your name?
Je m’appelle Thomas Dubois.
/ʒə ma.pɛl tɔ.ma dy.bwa/
My name is Thomas Dubois.
You can also add:
- Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. /ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te də fɛʁ vɔ.tʁə kɔ.nɛ.sɑ̃s/ — Pleased to meet you.
Informal Script (Friends, Parties, Class)
Salut, je m’appelle Zoé.
/sa.ly ʒə ma.pɛl zɔ.e/
Hi, my name is Zoé.
Moi, c’est Hugo. Tu t’appelles comment ?
/mwa sɛ yɡo ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃/
I’m Hugo. What’s your name?
Je m’appelle Alex.
/ʒə ma.pɛl a.lɛks/
My name is Alex.
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
A lot of beginners try to translate English too literally and say:
- ✗ Quel est votre nom ? every time.
That’s grammatically fine, but it sounds more like a form, a police interrogation, or a very stiff situation. For everyday life:
- Use Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal)
- Or Comment tu t’appelles ? / Tu t’appelles comment ? (informal)
Region Notes
We’re focusing on France French, but you’ll hear slight differences elsewhere.
In France:
- Most common: Comment vous appelez-vous ?, Comment tu t’appelles ?, Tu t’appelles comment ?, Je m’appelle…
- Mon nom est… feels unusual in casual speech.
In Québec and some other regions:
- You might hear C’est quoi ton nom ? /se kwa tɔ̃ nɔ̃/ — What’s your name? (very normal there)
- Or more colloquial things like T’es qui ? /te ki/ among friends.
As a learner in France, the safest toolkit is:
- Je m’appelle…
- Comment vous appelez-vous ?
- Comment tu t’appelles ? / Tu t’appelles comment ?
Mini Dialogues
Here are a few ready-made mini scenes you can borrow.
1. At A Language Exchange
Bonjour, je m’appelle Sam. Comment vous appelez-vous ?
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ʒə ma.pɛl sam kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu/
Hello, my name is Sam. What’s your name?
Bonjour, je m’appelle Élodie.
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ʒə ma.pɛl e.lɔ.di/
Hello, my name is Élodie.
Enchanté, Élodie.
/ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te e.lɔ.di/
Nice to meet you, Élodie.
2. First Day In Class
Salut, moi c’est Max. Tu t’appelles comment ?
/sa.ly mwa sɛ maks ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃/
Hi, I’m Max. What’s your name?
Je m’appelle Aisha.
/ʒə ma.pɛl a.i.ʃa/
My name is Aisha.
Enchanté, Aisha.
/ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te a.i.ʃa/
Nice to meet you, Aisha.
3. At A Hotel Reception
Bonjour, je m’appelle Laura Martin.
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ʒə ma.pɛl lo.ʁa maʁ.tɛ̃/
Hello, my name is Laura Martin.
Bonjour madame Martin, comment vous appelez-vous ?
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ma.dam maʁ.tɛ̃ kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu/
Hello Ms Martin, what is your name?
Je m’appelle Pierre Durand, le réceptionniste.
/ʒə ma.pɛl pjɛʁ dy.ʁɑ̃ lə ʁe.sɛp.sjɔ.nist/
My name is Pierre Durand, the receptionist.
Enchantée, monsieur Durand.
/ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te mə.sjø dy.ʁɑ̃/
Nice to meet you, Mr Durand.
Quick Reference
A screenshot-friendly list of the most important phrases.
| French | IPA | English |
| Je m’appelle… | ʒə ma.pɛl | My name is… |
| Je m’appelle Marie. | ʒə ma.pɛl ma.ʁi | My name is Marie. |
| Je suis Marie. | ʒə sɥi ma.ʁi | I’m Marie. |
| Moi, c’est Marie. | mwa sɛ ma.ʁi | I’m Marie. (very casual) |
| Comment vous appelez-vous ? | kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu | What’s your name? (formal) |
| Comment tu t’appelles ? | kɔ.mɑ̃ ty tapɛl | What’s your name? (informal) |
| Tu t’appelles comment ? | ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃ | What’s your name? (informal, very natural) |
| Comment t’appelles-tu ? | kɔ.mɑ̃ tapɛl ty | What’s your name? (textbook) |
| C’est quoi ton nom ? | se kwa tɔ̃ nɔ̃ | What’s your name? (very informal) |
| Enchanté(e). | ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te | Nice to meet you. |
| Bonjour, je m’appelle… | bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ʒə ma.pɛl | Hello, my name is… |
| Et toi, tu t’appelles comment ? | e twa ty tapɛl kɔ.mɑ̃ | And you, what’s your name? (informal) |
| Et vous, comment vous appelez-vous ? | e vu kɔ.mɑ̃ vu za.pə.le vu | And you, what’s your name? (formal) |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Name Swap Drill (1 minute)
Say out loud, slowly:
Je m’appelle… + your real name, then two fake names (Marie, Thomas, Zoé, Max). Focus on ma-pelle, not “map-pel”. - Formal vs Informal Switch (1 minute)
Alternate:
Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal)
Comment tu t’appelles ? (informal)
Say each three times and feel the difference between vous /vu/ and tu /ty/. - Mirror Mini-Dialogue (1 minute)
Look at yourself and act out:
— Bonjour, je m’appelle [your name].
— Et toi, tu t’appelles comment ?
Answer as if you were someone else. Yes, you’re talking to yourself. The yak approves. - Write-And-Say (1 minute)
Write one formal and one informal introduction, for example:
Bonjour, je m’appelle [Name]. Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Salut, moi c’est [Name]. Tu t’appelles comment ?
Read each aloud twice. - 20-Second Recording (1 minute)
Record yourself on your phone saying:
Bonjour, je m’appelle [Name]. Je suis [nationality]. Et vous, comment vous appelez-vous ?
Listen back once and check if je m’appelle sounds like one smooth chunk. - Real-Life Mission
Next time you meet a French speaker (or even in a language exchange online), use exactly:
Bonjour, je m’appelle [Name]. Et vous, comment vous appelez-vous ?
That’s the moment where this stops being “a phrase in a book” and turns into a real conversation.
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Once you’ve got je m’appelle and the right comment vous appelez-vous / comment tu t’appelles in your mouth, introductions stop feeling like a grammar exam and start feeling like… well, meeting people. This is the tiny set of phrases that can turn you from “mute tourist with a baguette” into someone who actually sounds like they belong in the conversation.