ton nom
In French, "your name" is translated as ton nom.
The phrase is used to refer to the name belonging to the person you are speaking to.
Which one should you use?
While ton nom is often used to refer to a surname, if you want to specifically ask for someone's given name, you should use ton prénom. In contrast, if you need to address a stranger, a superior or a group of people, use votre nom instead of ton nom.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ton nom is an informal form used in casual settings with friends, family or people of a similar age.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, Canada, speakers may use the expression Moé, c'est Marie to introduce themselves instead of the standard Je m'appelle Marie.
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive adjective ton must agree with the masculine gender of the noun nom. This remains true regardless of whether the person you are speaking to is male or female.
Did you know?
- When asking for a name, French speakers use the reflexive verb s'appeler, which literally means 'to call oneself'.
- The French word nom is a cognate of the English word 'noun', as both derive from the Latin 'nomen' meaning 'name'.
- The word ton has two completely unrelated meanings: it can be the possessive 'your' or it can refer to a musical 'tone' or the 'tone' of a voice.
Examples in context
- Quel est ton nom ?What is your name?This sentence is useful for asking what someone's name is using ton nom.Tatoeba #1097924 by nimfeo, translation #70623 by frpzzd
- Layla est ton nom ?Is your name Layla?This sentence is useful for confirming if a specific name belongs to the listener using ton nom.Tatoeba #7477879 by theachaean, translation #6311543 by OsoHombre
- J'ai oublié ton nom.I've forgotten your name.This sentence is useful for stating that you have forgotten someone's name using ton nom.Tatoeba #6875121 by felix63, translation #2359521 by CK
- 78 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa meet for the first time at a party.
- LucasSalut ! Je m'appelle Lucas. Et toi, c'est quoi ton nom ?Hi! My name is Lucas. And you, what is your name?
- LéaJe m'appelle Léa. Enchantée !My name is Léa. Nice to meet you!
- LucasEnchanté, Léa. C'est un joli ton nom.Nice to meet you, Léa. Your name is pretty.
- LéaMerci beaucoup, Lucas !Thank you very much, Lucas!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
