What does it mean word for word?
The word enchanté literally means "enchanted" or "delighted".
Which one should you use?
While enchanté is a common single-word way to say "nice to meet you", the phrase Ravi de vous rencontrer is a more formal version. For informal situations, such as when addressing someone your own age or younger, you can say Heureux de faire ta connaissance.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
enchanté is a common way to say "nice to meet you" in formal situations. Je suis ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance. is considered a polite and elegant formal expression. Conversely, Heureux/Heureuse de faire ta connaissance. is a casual, informal way to express the same sentiment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the gender of the speaker. If the speaker is female, the word takes an extra 'e' at the end: enchantée.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te/
When do people say it?
When someone says enchanté (or enchantée) to you, it is common to simply respond with enchanté (or enchantée) back.
Did you know?
- The word ravi in Ravi de vous rencontrer comes from a word meaning 'carried away' or 'seized', implying the speaker is swept off their feet by the meeting.
- Because enchanté is an adjective meaning 'enchanted', saying it to someone is a way of saying they have cast a spell of delight upon you.
- In very formal French circles, using enchanté can sometimes be seen as slightly too brief or casual compared to the full phrase Je suis ravi de faire votre connaissance.
Examples in context
- Enchanté.Nice to meet you.
- Je suis enchanté de vous rencontrer.I am delighted to meet you.
- Enchanté de faire votre connaissance.Delighted to make your acquaintance.
Example conversation
Hugo meets Manon at a professional networking event.
- HugoBonjour, je m'appelle Hugo.Hello, my name is Hugo.
- ManonEnchantée, moi c'est Manon.Nice to meet you, I am Manon.
- HugoEnchanté, Manon.Nice to meet you, Manon.
- ManonC'est un plaisir.It is a pleasure.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry enchanté, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
