What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "how you call yourself?"
Which one should you use?
While comment tu t'appelles ? is a common way to ask the question, you may also see the forms Comment t'appelles-tu? or Comment est-ce que tu t'appelles? used to mean the same thing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form comment tu t'appelles ? is the standard informal way to ask for a name and is typically used with children or peers. For formal settings, such as when speaking to adults you do not know or to superiors, you should use comment vous appelez-vous ? or Pourriez-vous me dire votre nom?
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase tu t'appelles, the verb is reflexive. It uses the pronoun te (which is shortened to t' before a vowel) to indicate that the action of calling is being performed on oneself.
When do people say it?
The standard response to this question is Je m'appelle… followed by your name.
Did you know?
- The word tu is a cognate with the German 'du' and the Russian 'ты', sharing a common ancestor from Proto-Indo-European.
- If you were to use tu t'appelles with a stranger in a shop, it would be considered quite jarring or even rude.
- In very casual spoken French, people often omit the comment entirely and simply ask tu t'appelles comment ? with a rising intonation.
Examples in context
- Dis-moi, comment tu t'appelles ?Tell me, what is your name?
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are meeting at a party.
- LucasSalut, comment tu t'appelles ?Hi, what is your name?
- ChloéJe m'appelle Chloé, et toi ?My name is Chloé, and you?
- LucasMoi, c'est Lucas.Me, I'm Lucas.
- ChloéEnchantée, Lucas.Nice to meet you, Lucas.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
