How to Say “Hi, What’s Your Name?” in French

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salut, comment tu t'appelles ?
salut, comment tu t'appelles ? is the French way to say hi, what's your name?
This phrase is an informal greeting used to ask someone for their name.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase comment tu t'appelles ? literally translates to 'how do you call yourself?'

Which one should you use?

While salut, comment tu t'appelles ? is used in casual settings, you should use comment vous appelez-vous ? when speaking to a stranger, an elder or a group of people. For an even more formal approach, you might say Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous me dire votre nom, s'il vous plaît ? (Excuse me, could you tell me your name, please?). In very casual settings, you might also hear Coucou, c'est quoi ton prénom ? to specifically ask for someone's first name.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The greeting salut is informal and can mean both 'hi' and 'bye'. Because of this, it is unsuitable for formal professional settings.

How does it change in a sentence?

To respond to this question, you use the reflexive verb form je m'appelle followed by your name.

Did you know?

  • In France, using tu with a stranger or a superior instead of vous can be perceived as an intentional insult or a sign of extreme disrespect.
  • The word salut is actually a contraction of a wish for someone's 'health' or 'salvation', stemming from the Latin 'salūtem'.

Example conversation

Two teenagers meeting at a summer camp.

  1. Chloé

    Salut, comment tu t'appelles ?
    Hi, what's your name?
  2. Nathan

    Moi, c'est Nathan. Et toi ?
    I'm Nathan. And you?
  3. Chloé

    Je m'appelle Chloé.
    My name is Chloé.
  4. Nathan

    Enchanté, Chloé !
    Nice to meet you, Chloé!

Sources

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Lori Shelby
Lori ShelbyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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