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When you meet someone new, what is one of the first things you ask them? What do you tell them about yourself? You probably ask for their name and tell them yours, so you already understand the importance of this lesson.
In the video, you will hear someone introduce themselves, ask someone else their name, and ask about other people’s names in a short conversation.
Bonjour! Comment ça va? Moi, je vais bien.
What is one of the first things you say or ask when meeting someone new?
If you said your name, then you’ve figured what this lesson is about! Listen to the following people introduce themselves in French.
Bonjour! Comment vas-tu? Je m’appelle
Isabelle. Comment t’appelles-tu?
Salut! Je m’appelle Adrien. Comment t’appelles-tu?
What expression did each speaker use to say their name and to ask the other person’s name?
Did you hear Je m’appelle? That is the way to say My name is in French.
Did you hear each speaker ask Comment t’appelles-tu? Then, you also heard how to say What is your name?
Now, listen to these two women co-workers introducing themselves to each other.
Woman 1: Bonjour! Je m’appelle Caroline. Comment t’appelles-tu?
Woman: 2: Enchantée, Caroline. Je m’appelle Sophie.
Did you hear or see the word that Sophie used to say “nice to meet you” in French?
That’s right! It’s enchantée.
We’ve seen how to say your name and ask someone else their name. How about asking about other people’s names? Listen closely to how Benoit gives the name of the cousin he’s going to the stadium with.
Claude: Bonjour, Benoit!
Benoit: Salut!
Claude: Tu veux un café?
Benoit:
Non, merci. Je vais au stade avec mon cousin.
Claude: Ah oui? Comment s’appelle-t-il?
Benoit: Il s’appelle Maurice.
Claude: Au revoir.
So how did Claude ask what Benoit’s cousin’s name is in French?
Claude said Comment s’appelle-t-il? which means What is his name?
And how did Benoit respond?
He responded with Il s’appelle Maurice meaning His name is Maurice.
Claude calls to ask Clarice if she wants to visit to Rome over the weekend. Can you hear how Claude asks for Clarice’s female cousin’s name?
Clarice: Allo!
Claude: Oui, c’est Claude.
Clarice: Salut, Claude!
Claude: Tu veux voyager à Rome ce weekend?
Clarice:
Non, merci Claude. Je vais au parc avec ma cousine.
Claude: Alors, comment s’appelle-t-elle?
Clarice: Elle s’appelle Alice.
Claude: Donc, passe un bon weekend!
How did Claude ask Clarice’s cousin’s name?
He said Comment s’appelle-t-elle? which means What is her name?
And how did Clarice respond?
She responded with Elle s’appelle Alice. Her name is Alice.
How would you ask someone about this girl’s name?
Comment s’appelle-t-elle?
How would you ask someone about this boy’s name?
Comment s’appelle-t-il?
How would you say “Her name is Clarice”?
Elle s’appelle Clarice.
How would you say “His name is Pablo”?
Il s’appelle Pablo.
Great work! Let’s review ways to ask someone’s name.
Comment t’appelles-tu? means What is your name?
Comment s’appelle-t-elle? is how we ask What is her name?
Comment s’appelle-t-il? is how we ask What is his name?
Now, let’s review the ways to say someone’s name.
Je m’appelle means My name is.
Il s’appelle mean His name is.
And elle s’appelle means Her name is.
Et finalement!
We say enchanté when we want to express that it is nice to meet someone.
Practice using these phrases in different situations and activities in this lesson. By the end, you should be able to say your name, ask other people’s names, and say “Nice to meet you!” in simple French conversations. Bonne chance!
On the next pages, you will become more familiar with and practice in depth saying and asking for people’s names.
Question
What does the verb appeler mean in English?
To call
