Bonjour, je suis
The English phrase "hello, I am" is translated into French as Bonjour, je suis.
Bonjour, je suis is a greeting used to introduce oneself to another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Bonjour (good day/hello), je (I) and suis (am).
Which one should you use?
While Bonjour, je suis is grammatically correct, the more common and natural way to introduce oneself in French is to say Bonjour, je m'appelle (Hello, my name is).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use Salut as an informal alternative when introducing yourself to peers or in casual settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the informal greeting Salut, je m'appelle [Your Name]. is used. In Belgium, Bonjour, je m'appelle [Your Name]. is used as a formal greeting.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb suis is the first-person singular present indicative form of the irregular verb être (to be).
Did you know?
- In France, Bonjour is frequently accompanied by la bise, a social greeting where people kiss each other on the cheeks during an introduction.
- Using je suis to introduce yourself can sound like you are stating your profession or role rather than your name.
- The word suis has a strange history where its modern form was influenced by the past tense 'I was' rather than the standard present tense 'I am'.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, je m'appelle [Your Name].Hello, I am [Your Name].
- Enchanté(e), je suis [Your Name].Delighted to meet you, I am [Your Name].
- Salut, je m'appelle [Your Name].Hi, I am [Your Name].
- Coucou, c'est [Your Name]!Hey, it's [Your Name]!
- Bonjour, je suis Marie.Hello, I am Marie.
- Bonjour, je suis le nouveau professeur.Hello, I am the new teacher.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan meet at a professional networking event.
- EmmaBonjour, je suis Emma.Hello, I am Emma.
- NathanEnchanté Emma, moi c'est Nathan.Nice to meet you Emma, I am Nathan.
- EmmaVous travaillez dans quel domaine ?What field do you work in?
- NathanJe suis designer graphique.I am a graphic designer.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bonjour, bonjour, je, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
