Introduce Yourself In French In 7 Best Ways

5 min readMay 6, 2022

Original blog post: https://ling-app.com/fr/introduce-yourself-in-french/

Are you wondering what the best way to introduce yourself in French is? Introducing yourself to others can be complicated because a proper introduction should include your name, where you live, your job, how old you are, and often even your hobbies. And if this is your first time speaking French, you will have to take note of certain words and phrases.

In general, it is not part of French etiquette to start with an introduction without greeting the other person. After the initial greetings, you are asked basic information about yourself, and you should know the very basics phrases and words to answer appropriately. Here is a complete guide to introducing yourself in French. Keep reading!

Simple French Greetings

In the French culture, you always greet other people when meeting them. Here are standard French greetings:

Bonjour — Hello (or good morning)
Salut — Hello (informal context, similar to “hi”)
Bonsoir — Good evening
Bonne nuit — Good night (typically used when leaving)
C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer — It’s a pleasure to meet you (formal version)
Enchanté de faire votre connaissance — Delighted to make your acquaintance
Bon matin — good morning
C’est un plaisir de faire votre reconnaissance — it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance

When you complete the conversation and are about to leave, you can say:

Au revoir — Goodbye
À bientôt — See you later

À bientôt is an informal option used only when you know a French person, or you can use the informal version au revoir with strangers.

Remember that in French, in informal situations, you can use the word “Tu.” However, if you are meeting others in formal situations, you should use “Vous.” Learn more about the basic greetings here.

Best Ways To Introduce Yourself In French

In introducing yourself in French, you have to use a few words to say who you are. Typically, the first thing that others want to know is your name.

During a French introduction, you can say your name in different ways. Here are the most common:

Je m’appelle… — I am … ( literally translates in “I am calling myself…)
Je suis… — I am…
Mon nom est… — My name is…
Moi c’est… — I am… (used when the other person’s name is said first)
Mon prénom est… — My first name is…
Je m’appelle (name), mais je me fais appeler (name) — My name is (name), but I prefer to be called (name)
Je me présente — I’d like to introduce myself

Note: Sometimes, you are the one who will say your name first saying your name, but there may also be times wherein you will suddenly be asked about your name and where you live and work. For example, your French friends can ask you:

Comment vous appelez vous?- What is your name? (formal way used with strangers)
Comment t’appelles tu? — What’s your name? (informal version)
Quel est ton travail ? — What is your job?
D’où venez vous? — Where are you from?
Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire ? — What do you like to do? (used with a french friend)
Qu’est-ce que vous aimez faire ? — What do you like to do (used when you just met someone)

You could also be asked où habitez vous? (Where do you live). This is used with a new french friend or people you don’t know. The informal version is où habites tu?

Answering Questions During The Introductions

Learning French introductions includes answering common questions when you are asked. Typically, other people want to know basic information to relate with you and have something to talk about.

Where Do You Live — Où Habite Tu (Vous)?

J’habite à Paris — I live in Paris
Je viens de Paris — I come from Paris
Je viens de France — I come from France

What Is Your Job — Quel Est Votre (Ton) Travail?

Je suis… — I am… (tell your profession)

You should just say your profession after Je suis without any other word. For example:

Je suis enseignant — I am a teacher
Je suis un pilote — I am a pilot
Je travaille comme (or je suis) réceptionniste — I work as a receptionist

What You Like To Do — Qu’est-ce Que Vous (Tu) Aimez Faire?

J’aime… — I like …
Je M’intéresse à… — I am interested in…

For example, you can say:

J’aime voyager — I like to travel
J’aime étudier les langues étrangères — I like to study foreign languages

What Languages Do You Speak? — Quelle Langue Parles-tu (Vous)?

When you are making french friends, they may also be curious about your abilities to learn new languages and how many languages you know. So it can be part of the introduction.

Je parle French et (other languages) — I speak French and …
J’étudie… — I am studying…
J’apprends le Français depuis… — I learn French since…

How Old Are You (Quel Âge As-tu?)

It is perfectly fine to answer the following:

J’ai (numbers of years) ans — I am (number of years)

Examples Of Introduction In French

Here are some French phrases of how you put together all the above information with a conversation partner.

Introduce yourself in french when speaking first:

Bonjour (or salut)! Je m’appelle (name). Comment vous appelez-vous? — Hello! My name is (name). What’s your name?

Introduce yourself in french when you are asked your name:

Bonjour je m’appelle (name). Et toi? — Hello! My name is Renée. And you?

You can respond:

Bonjour! Moi c’est (name). Enchantée. — Hello! I’m (name). Nice to meet you.

Introducing yourself in french in formal contexts

Pardonnez-moi. Je me présente, (name). Enchantée. — Excuse me. My name is (name). I’m pleased to meet you.

Do you want to master the French language? Then, you can continue your progress by reading 50 French Adjectives and 10 Basic French Pronouns.

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