je m'appelle Julia
The English phrase "my name is julia" is translated into French as je m'appelle Julia.
This sentence is used to introduce oneself by stating one's name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je m'appelle literally translates to "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
While Je suis Julia is grammatically correct, je m'appelle Julia is the more standard and natural way to introduce oneself in French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is reflexive, using the pronoun m' to indicate that the subject is performing the action of naming upon themselves.
Did you know?
- The verb in je m'appelle is the same word used for a 'phone call', un appel.
- In France, when filling out official forms, you are often asked to write your nom in all capital letters to avoid confusion between similar family names.
- The English word 'ego' and the French word je share the same ancestor, the Latin word egō̆.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Julia.Hello, my name is Julia.
- Enchantée, je m'appelle Julia.Nice to meet you, my name is Julia.
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé meet for the first time at a party.
- HugoBonjour, je m'appelle Hugo.Hello, my name is Hugo.
- ChloéSalut Hugo, je m'appelle Julia.Hi Hugo, my name is Julia.
- HugoEnchanté de te rencontrer, Julia.Nice to meet you, Julia.
- ChloéMoi aussi, enchantée !Me too, nice to meet you!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Julia, je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
