je m'appelle Jeff
The English phrase "my name is Jeff" is translated into French as je m'appelle Jeff.
The phrase je m'appelle Jeff is the standard, neutral way to introduce yourself in almost any social or professional situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je m'appelle literally means "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
While mon nom est Jeff is grammatically possible, je m'appelle Jeff is the much more natural and standard way to introduce oneself in French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the reflexive form of the verb appeler, where m' (me) indicates that the action of calling is being performed on oneself.
Did you know?
- While je m'appelle is the standard, if you are identifying yourself on the phone, you would use C'est [name] or Allô, [name] à l'appareil.
- In some French-speaking regions, particularly in parts of Africa, it is common to introduce oneself by stating one's family name before their given name.
- The word appeler in je m'appelle is a cognate of the English word 'appeal', as both derive from the Latin word for calling or summoning.
Examples in context
- Je m'appelle Jeff et enchanté.My name is Jeff and nice to meet you.
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Jeff.Hello, my name is Jeff.
- Enchanté, je m'appelle Jeff.Nice to meet you, my name is Jeff.
- Je m'appelle Jeff et j'aime le café.My name is Jeff and I love coffee.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa meet for the first time at a party.
- GabrielSalut ! Je m'appelle Jeff.Hi! My name is Jeff.
- LéaSalut Jeff, moi c'est Léa.Hi Jeff, I'm Léa.
- GabrielRavi de te rencontrer, Léa.Nice to meet you, Léa.
- LéaMoi aussi, ravi de te rencontrer.Me too, nice to meet you.
