Mon école s'appelle
To say my school name is in French, say Mon école s'appelle, followed by the name of the school.
What does it mean word for word?
Word for word, Mon école s'appelle means my school calls itself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Wallonia, in Belgium, Mon établissement scolaire porte le nom de… is also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
école is feminine, but it begins with a vowel, so it takes Mon. The verb is in the third person singular to agree with Mon école.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often translate word for word as Le nom de mon école est. Mon école s'appelle sounds much more natural.
Did you know?
- The word école comes from the Ancient Greek word skholḗ, which originally meant 'leisure' or 'spare time'. The Greeks believed that only those with free time could afford to engage in the luxury of learning.
- In French culture, the specific type of school often dictates the social prestige of the name. Mentioning a Grande École refers to a highly selective elite institution, not just a 'big school' in size.
- French uses the reflexive verb s'appeler for more than just people. The same construction used in Mon école s'appelle is used to name cities, rivers and pets.
Examples in context
- Mon établissement scolaire s'appelle Lycée Louis Pasteur.My school name is Lycée Louis Pasteur.
- Mon école s'appelle Saint-Exupéry.My school's name is Saint-Exupéry.
- Mon école s'appelle l'Institut International.My school's name is the International Institute.
- Mon école s'appelle la Rose des Vents.My school is called La Rose des Vents.
Example conversation
Two students are meeting for the first time.
- GabrielBonjour, je m'appelle Gabriel.Hello, my name is Gabriel.
- ChloéSalut Gabriel, moi c'est Chloé.Hi Gabriel, I'm Chloé.
- GabrielMon école s'appelle Jean Moulin.My school's name is Jean Moulin.
- ChloéOh, c'est une très bonne école !Oh, that is a very good school!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mon, école, CC BY-SA 4.0.
