How to Introduce Yourself in French: A Beginner's Guide 🇫🇷

Margot Berzosa
May 12
2 min read

Whether you're planning a trip to Paris, taking a French class, or just love learning new languages, knowing how to introduce yourself in French is one of the most useful skills to have. French is known for its elegance and charm, and even the simplest introduction can make a great impression. In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of introducing yourself in French—step by step.

1. Start with a Greeting 👋

The first thing you should do when meeting someone in French is greet them. Here are a few common greetings:

Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – “Good morning” or “Hello” 🌞
Salut (sah-loo) – “Hi” (informal, used with friends or peers) 🙋‍♂️
Bonsoir (bohn-swahr) – “Good evening” (used after 5 PM) 🌙
Comment ça va ? (koh-mohn sah vah) – “How’s it going?” (informal) 😄

2. Introduce Yourself with Your Name 💁‍♀️

After the greeting, it’s time to introduce yourself. You can say:

Je m'appelle [Your Name] (zhuh mah-pel) – “My name is [Your Name]” 🏷️

For example:

Je m'appelle Marie. – “My name is Marie.” ✨

3. Share a Little About Yourself 🌍

Once you’ve introduced your name, you might want to share some basic information. Here are some phrases you can use:

Je suis [Your Nationality]. (zhuh swee) – “I’m [Your Nationality]” 🌏
- Je suis américain(e). – “I’m American.” 🇺🇸
- Je suis français(e). – “I’m French.” 🇫🇷
J’habite à [City]. (zhah-beet ah) – “I live in [City]” 🏙️
- J’habite à Paris. – “I live in Paris.” 🗼

4. Add Some Small Talk 💬

Now that you’ve introduced yourself, it’s nice to ask some basic questions to keep the conversation going:

Ça va ? (sah vah) – “How’s it going?” (informal) 😊
Comment allez-vous ? (koh-mohn ah-lay voo) – “How are you?” (formal) 👔
Je parle un peu français. (zhuh parl uh puh frahn-say) – “I speak a little French.” 🇫🇷
J'apprends le français. (zhah-prahn luh frahn-say) – “I’m learning French.” 📚
- This is a great way to let the other person know you’re still in the learning process and they might be patient with you. 😊

5. Polite Farewells 👋

Finally, if the conversation comes to a close, you’ll want to know how to say goodbye in French. Some common farewells include:

Au revoir ! (oh ruh-vwar) – “Goodbye!” 👋
À bientôt ! (ah byan-toh) – “See you soon!” 👋
Salut ! (sah-loo) – “Bye!” (informal) 👋

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