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If you want to master French, you first need to grasp the basics, including how to introduce yourself. With just a few simple words and phrases, you'll be able to greet people and make friends who speak French. Who knows, you might even make some friendships that cross language barriers! This article will guide you on how to greet, introduce yourself, and share some personal information with someone you've just met.
Steps
Greeting in French
Say "Bonjour" to greet someone. This common greeting means "Good day." It's widely used in various situations, similar to how "Hello" is used in English or "Xin chào" in Vietnamese. So, if you're ever unsure about how to greet someone (or if you just want to have one go-to greeting for any context), "Bonjour" is a smart choice.
- "Bonjour" is pronounced "bohn-zhoor." The "zh" sound is similar to the "ge" sound in the word "deluge" in English. The "n" sound is light, almost inaudible. The "r" is soft, pronounced at the back of the throat (like a gargling sound).
- The word "bon" in "Bonjour" means "good," and "jour" means "day." Together, they form "Good day."
Say a more casual hello with the word "Salut." This is a more informal greeting, similar to saying "Hi" or "Hey" in English or "Chào" in Vietnamese. You can use this word with friends, family, and children. However, for a new boss or teacher, you should choose a more formal greeting, as "Salut" can sometimes be seen as too casual.
- "Salut" is pronounced “Sah-loo.” The "loo" sound is softer, like saying “liu” with a very light “i” sound at the start of the syllable.
Say good morning with "Bon matin." Use the appropriate greeting for different times of the day! "Bon matin" means "Good morning." You can use this phrase instead of "Bonjour" or "Salut" when greeting someone in the morning.
- "Bon matin" is pronounced “bohn mah-ten.” The word "Bon" sounds like the first syllable of "Bonjour," and the "tin" in "matin" has a soft “n” sound, almost like a silent letter.
Wish someone a pleasant evening with "Bonsoir" or "Bonne nuit." "Bonsoir" means "Good evening," while "Bonne nuit" means "Good night." Both can be used in the evening, although "Bonne nuit" is often said as a farewell when wishing someone a peaceful sleep.
- "Bonsoir" is pronounced “Bohn-swahr.” The final “r” is lightly rolled, almost like gargling salt water in your throat, just like the sound in "Bonjour".
- "Bonne nuit" is pronounced “Bun nwee.” The word "Bonne" has a stronger “u” sound than in "Bon".
Politely greet someone with "Enchanté de faire votre connaissance." This phrase lets someone know you are happy to meet them. "Enchanté de faire votre connaissance" translates to “Nice to meet you,” so use it only when meeting someone for the first time! There are other variations of this greeting:
- A more casual way of saying “Nice to meet you” is "C’est un plaisir de faire votre reconnaissance" (pronounced “Set uhn play-zheer duh fayr vot-ruh re-ko-nay-sans”).
- The more formal version is "C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer" (pronounced “Set uhn play-zheer duh voo ran-con-tray”). This means “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
- "Enchanté de faire votre connaissance" is pronounced “An-shan-tay duh fayr vot-ruh con-nay-sahnse.”
Introduce your name in French
Introduce yourself using the phrase "Je m’appelle." After greeting someone, you should let them know who you are. One of the most common ways to introduce yourself is with the phrase "Je m’appelle," which translates to "My name is." Finish your introduction with your name.
- "Je m’appelle" is pronounced like “Zhuh mah-pell.” The "Je" sound here (or “zhuh”) is similar to the "ge" in "deluge."
- For example, a complete introduction could be “Bonjour! Je m’appelle Danh.” meaning “Hello, my name is Danh.”
- Introduce the name you'd like people to call you, if any. You might say, "Je m’appelle Dương, mais je me fais appeler Duy" (“Zhuh mah-pell Dương, may zhuh muh fay ah-pel-ay Duy.”) This means “My name is Dương, but I prefer to be called Duy.”
Say "Je suis" to introduce yourself. "Je suis" means "I am." After this phrase, you’ll say your name. Both "Je m’appelle" and "Je suis" can be used interchangeably in most situations – it's up to you which one you prefer.
- "Je suis" is pronounced as “Zhuh swee.”
- In a full sentence, you could say “Bonsoir! Je suis Linh” to introduce yourself.
Use "Moi c’est" for a casual introduction. "Moi c’est" means “Well, I’m” or “By the way, I’m.” Use this phrase if you’re talking with someone and realize you haven’t introduced yourself yet. This phrase sounds very casual, so it’s best used in relaxed conversations with peers.
- Finish the sentence with your name after "Moi c’est". For example, you can say, "Moi c’est Hồng."
- "Moi c’est" is pronounced “Mwah say.” The word "c’est" may sound different depending on the context; in this case, it’s pronounced “say,” but in “C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer,” it would sound like “set.”
Say "Je me présente" in formal situations. Use this phrase when you need to be more polite. "Je me présente" translates to “Allow me to introduce myself” and is appropriate for introductions in presentations, job interviews, or professional settings. After this phrase, say "Je m’appelle" followed by your name.
- For instance, you might say “Bonjour, je me présente. Je m’appelle Karin,” which means “Hello, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Khanh.”
- "Je me présente" is pronounced “Zhuh muh pray-zant.”
Introduce yourself on the phone with "(Name) à l’appareil." This phrase means “(Name) speaking,” or simply “(Name) here,” and is used only over the phone in professional contexts when answering a call. For everyday calls, a more casual greeting is more appropriate!
- "(Name) à l’appareil" is pronounced “ah lah-par-ay.” As with other words containing the letter "r," the “r” sound here is soft and made in the back of the throat.
- When answering the phone in French, you can also start with the greeting "Allô?" (Ah-low?) which means “Hello” and is used specifically when speaking over the phone.
Sharing personal information in French
Introduce your hometown using "J'habite à (location)." Since you're not a native French speaker, the person you're talking to may be curious about where you're from! "J'habite à" translates to "I live in..." to share details about your hometown.
- "J'habite à" is pronounced like "Zhah-beet ah."
- End the phrase with the name of your town or country. For example, "J'habite à Hà Nội!" means "I live in Hanoi!"
Talk about your profession with "Je suis (profession)." If the conversation turns to your job, you can use "Je suis" meaning "I am" to talk about your profession. After "Je suis", you can mention your occupation in French to easily answer such questions!
- For example, you could say "Je suis docteur," which means "I am a doctor," or "Je suis artiste," which means "I am an artist."
- If you're still a student, say you're studying by using "J’étudie" (Zhey-too-dee), meaning "I am studying." For instance, "J’étudie l'écriture créative" means "I am studying creative writing."
Introduce your age with the phrase "J'ai (age) ans." In the right context, you might want to share your age. This isn't always a topic of conversation, but if you're a younger person speaking with someone older, it can be useful to know the phrase. Use the following simple structure:
- "J'ai (age) ans" is pronounced as "Zheh (age) ahn." The final "n" sound is very soft and almost inaudible.
Introduce others who are with you. Knowing how to introduce others is just as important as introducing yourself. You can use these phrases to introduce people you already know or people you've just met.
- "Je vous présente…" (Zhuh voo preh-zont) means "Let me introduce you to..." Follow this with the name of the person you're introducing.
- "Voici…" (Vwuh-see…) means "Here is..." This introduction is more casual. Like the first phrase, you'll follow it by saying the person's name.
Ask a few basic questions. After introductions are over, the conversation can move forward. Be ready with some questions to keep the chat going. Even if you're not fluent in French, you can still show that you want to learn more about the other person!
- "Comment vous appelez-vous?" (“Co-mahnt vooz ah-play-voo?”) means "What is your name?"
- "D'où êtes-vous?" (“Doo eht-voo?”) means "Where are you from?"
- "Quel est votre profession?" (Kell ay vote-ruh pro-fess-yone?) means "What is your profession?"
- "Comment allez-vous?" (Co-mahnt ah-lay-voo?) means "How are you?"
