What does it mean word for word?
The part je m'appelle literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
Depending on the level of familiarity, you can change the greeting. Using Salut, je m'appelle Lily or Coucou, moi c'est Lily is informal, whereas Bonjour, je m'appelle Lily is the standard way to say "Hello, my name is Lily".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to introduce yourself depending on the social setting. Bonjour, je m'appelle Lily is a formal way to introduce yourself. For a very polite, formal introduction, you might say Excusez-moi de vous déranger, je me présente. Je suis Lily. In informal settings, such as with peers or children, you can replace bonjour with salut to say Salut, je m'appelle Lily. Other informal options include Coucou, moi c'est Lily and Hé, c'est Lily.
When do people say it?
The word Coucou is an affectionate way of saying "hello".
Did you know?
- The playful greeting coucou is an onomatopoeia based on the sound of a cuckoo bird.
- In many social situations, an introduction is accompanied by la bise, the custom of kissing both cheeks.
- While bonjour is the standard greeting, saying it too many times to the same person in one day can be seen as odd or overly formal, as it is primarily used for the first encounter of the day.
Examples in context
- At a party: Salut, je m'appelle Lily. Comment tu t'appelles ?Hi, my name is Lily. What's your name?
- Meeting new friends: Coucou, moi c'est Lily. Tu veux qu'on soit amis ?Hey, I'm Lily. Do you want us to be friends?
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Lily. Enchantée.Hello, my name is Lily. Nice to meet you.
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Lily, enchantée.Hello, my name is Lily, nice to meet you.
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Lily et je suis nouvelle ici.Hello, my name is Lily and I am new here.
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a party.
- HugoSalut ! Je m'appelle Hugo.Hi! My name is Hugo.
- EmmaBonjour, je m'appelle Lily.Hello, my name is Lily.
- HugoRavi de te rencontrer, Lily.Nice to meet you, Lily.
- EmmaMerci, moi aussi !Thank you, me too!
