je m'appelle …
The phrase "my name is" in French can be expressed as je m'appelle … or mon nom est …
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French |
|---|
| je m'appelle … |
| mon nom est … |
Both forms are used to identify yourself, but they carry different nuances in conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je m'appelle literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
je m'appelle is the most common and natural way to introduce yourself in French. In contrast, mon nom est sounds more formal or can even sound unnatural in casual conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression je m'appelle uses a reflexive verb, where m' is the reflexive pronoun meaning "myself".
When do people say it?
When introducing yourself, it is polite to precede your introduction with a greeting such as Bonjour (Hello) or Bonsoir (Good evening).
Did you know?
- When meeting someone for the first time, the introduction often involves a handshake or la bise (cheek kisses), depending on the region and relationship.
- The word nom shares a common ancestor with the Greek word ónoma, which is the root of the English word 'onomatopoeia'.
- While je m'appelle is the standard, you may hear people in some French-speaking regions say moi, c'est … in casual settings to introduce themselves.
Example sentences for French are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, je, mon, nom, CC BY-SA 4.0.
