elle s'appelle Marie
To say "her name is Marie" in French, use elle s'appelle Marie.
This phrase is used to state the name of a female person. It utilizes the reflexive verb s'appelle, which means "to be called".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "she calls herself Marie".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid translating the English phrase literally as son nom est Marie. Instead, use elle s'appelle Marie as it is the natural way to state a name in French.
Did you know?
- The word Marie is so central to French culture that it appears in the phrase Marie-toilette, an old slang term referring to a specific type of bathroom arrangement.
- When asking for someone's name formally, the phrase comment vous appelez-vous is used, which literally asks 'how do you call yourself'.
- The word elle descends from the Latin 'illa', which was used to point out a specific woman at a distance.
Examples in context
- Je te présente ma sœur, elle s'appelle Marie.I'd like you to meet my sister, her name is Marie.
- Tu connais la nouvelle voisine ? Elle s'appelle Marie.Do you know the new neighbor? Her name is Marie.
Example conversation
Léa introduces a friend to Gabriel.
- LéaGabriel, je te présente ma collègue.Gabriel, I introduce my colleague to you.
- GabrielBonjour ! Quel est son prénom ?Hello! What is her first name?
- LéaElle s'appelle Marie.Her name is Marie.
- GabrielEnchanté de faire ta connaissance, Marie.Nice to meet you, Marie.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Marie, elle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
