What does it mean word for word?
bonjour means hello. je m'appelle literally means I call myself and is used to say my name is.
Which one should you use?
Salut is a relaxed way to say hi or hey among friends and people of similar age, so Salut, je m'appelle Jade is the informal version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Replacing bonjour with salut makes the greeting informal, suitable for peers or children.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In French-speaking Canada, such as Quebec, Salut, je m'appelle Jade is a common informal greeting.
How does it change in a sentence?
je m'appelle comes from a reflexive verb meaning to be called. The pronoun m' is the shortened form of me, used before a vowel sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Je suis Jade is grammatically correct, but Je m'appelle Jade is the more standard way to introduce yourself.
When do people say it?
After introductions, people often say Enchanté(e), meaning nice to meet you.
Did you know?
- The word jade shares a surprising history with the Spanish term 'piedra de ijada', which means 'flank stone' because the gem was once believed to cure side pains.
- The word salut is derived from the Latin 'salus', meaning 'health' or 'safety', making the greeting a literal wish for the other person's well-being.
- When saying enchanté after an introduction, French speakers often accompany the word with a slight nod or a handshake, but rarely a hug among new acquaintances.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Jade. Enchantée de faire votre connaissance, Madame Lambert.Hello, my name is Jade. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lambert.
- Salut, je m'appelle Jade. Ravie de te rencontrer, Thomas!Hi, my name is Jade. Nice to meet you, Thomas!
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Jade et je suis étudiante.Hello, my name is Jade and I am a student.
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Jade, enchantée.Hello, my name is Jade, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Jade introduces herself to a classmate.
- GabrielBonjour, je m'appelle Jade.Hello, my name is Jade.
- EmmaSalut Jade, moi c'est Emma.Hi Jade, I'm Emma.
- GabrielEnchantée, Emma !Nice to meet you, Emma!
- EmmaMoi aussi, enchantée !Me too, nice to meet you!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, jade, je, CC BY-SA 4.0.