je m'appelle David
To say my name is David in French, say je m'appelle David.
This is the standard way to introduce yourself. Among friends or at a party, Salut, moi c'est David! means hi, I'm David.
What does it mean word for word?
je m'appelle literally means I call myself.
Which one should you use?
Je suis David is correct grammar, but je m'appelle David is the more standard and natural introduction. If you prefer a nickname, you can say Je suis David, mais tu peux m'appeler Davy, I am David, but you can call me Davy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is reflexive, which is why the pronoun m' comes before appelle.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often say mon nom est David as a direct translation. It sounds stiff in French, so use je m'appelle David.
Did you know?
- The reflexive verb appeler in je m'appelle is a linguistic relative of the English word 'appeal', as both originate from the Latin word 'appellare'.
- If you use the phrase Je me nomme in a casual modern conversation, you will sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
- Depending on the region, such as in parts of Canada or Africa, the more formal je me nomme is used more frequently than it is in mainland France.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, je m'appelle David.Hello, my name is David.
- Enchanté, je m'appelle David.Nice to meet you, my name is David.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a party.
- ManonSalut ! Je m'appelle Manon.Hi! My name is Manon.
- HugoBonjour Manon, je m'appelle David.Hello Manon, my name is David.
- ManonTu es d'ici, David ?Are you from here, David?
- HugoOui, j'habite dans ce quartier.Yes, I live in this neighborhood.
