comment je m'appelle ?
What is my name? In French is comment je m'appelle ?, a question asking someone else for the speaker's own name.
Use comment je m'appelle ? when you want someone to tell you or remember your name, for example in a game or when testing a friend.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, comment je m'appelle ? means how do I call myself, rather than what is my name.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is reflexive, so the question uses the pronoun m' before the verb. The answer follows the same pattern with je m'appelle, my name is.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often translate word for word as quel est mon nom ? This sounds unnatural when asking for your own name. Use comment je m'appelle ? instead.
Did you know?
- While comment je m'appelle ? asks for a name, the verb appeler is also the standard word used when you are calling someone on the telephone.
- Using quel est mon nom ? to ask for your name can sound like a legal inquiry or a formal interrogation to a native speaker.
- The word comment is formed by combining comme and the suffix -ment, a pattern that creates many French adverbs.
Examples in context
- Dis-moi, comment je m'appelle ?Tell me, what is my name?
Example conversation
A playful game between two friends.
- ChloéFaisons un jeu. Comment je m'appelle ?Let's play a game. What is my name?
- NathanTu t'appelles Chloé, évidemment.Your name is Chloé, obviously.
- ChloéEt toi, comment tu t'appelles ?And you, what is your name?
- NathanMoi, je suis Nathan.Me, I am Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
