Learning to welcome, greet and introduce yourself to other people is a fundamental skill in any language and French is no exception. By mastering a few words and phrases, you can begin introducing yourself to French interlocutors and building an international friendship. Plus, by becoming familiar with the basics of French etiquette, you can avoid embarrassing missteps during the crucial first impression phase!
Steps
Part 1 of 1: Basic Presentations
Step 1. Use the correct salutation for the time of day
The words to say hello are "Hello" or "Hello" and are used when meeting someone. In French, as in Italian, there are many formulas to welcome and greet people. Here is a list of the most common, with a pronunciation guide:
- Bonjour (good morning): bohn-joou. The "j" has a sound that does not exist in Italian, but is similar to "sg" with a sweet "g". The final "n" and "r" are very delicate, almost silent.
- Bonsoir (good evening): bohn-suah; also in this case, the "n" is very delicate.
- Bonne nuit (goodnight): bonn nuì. In this word the "n" is sonorous.
- You can use the term "bonjour" in almost any situation and it's worth memorizing; the other greeting formulas are more suitable in the last stages of the day.
Step 2. If you have a friendly relationship with the other person, you can use "salut"
It is a greeting informal and it is similar to "ciao" or "salve" in Italian. It is entirely appropriate with friends, family and children, but is best avoided with the new boss at work or the teacher, as it could be perceived as disrespectful behavior.
Salut (informal hello): sah-lù. The final syllable "lù" has a rather light sound, not very common in the Italian language, it resembles a rather narrow "u". You can find a good example of its correct pronunciation by following this link.
Step 3. Say your name
After exchanging greetings, let the other person know who they are talking to. Again, there are a couple of different ways to proceed which are described below. Use informal expressions only with friends, family members, children, and so on.
- Je m'appelle _ (my name is _): je mah-pell (your name). Note that even in this word the "j" sounds similar to "sg" with a sweet "g".
- Je suis _ (I am _): je suì (your name).
- Moi c'est _ (I am _ [informal]): muà sè (your name).
- Another informal way is to simply say your name after the exchange of greetings. It sounds a bit like saying: "Hello, Luca" (if your name is Luca), while shaking hands with the interlocutor.
Step 4. Listen to the other person's introduction and move on to the pleasantries
When you meet someone in Italian, the presentation usually ends with "nice to meet you", "nice to meet you" or something similar. The French language is no different; use one of the phrases described below to show that you are happy to have met someone:
- Ravis de vous connaitre (nice to meet you): ra-vì deh vù con-net-tr. The French "r" is pronounced by lifting the back of the tongue towards the palate. In this way, a much more delicate and aspirated sound is obtained than that of the Italian "r".
- Ravis de vous encontrer (pleased to meet you): ra-vì deh vùs ohn-con-tré. The meaning is identical to that of the previous sentence, but be careful because the last "r" is silent.
- Enchanté (pleasure): ohn-shon-tea.
- If the other person utters one of these formulas before you, simply reply de même (de meh-m), which can be literally translated as "the same goes for me" and is comparable to "my pleasure".
Start a Conversation
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Mention your country. This is one of the most common questions asked when people first meet. Since you are not a native French speaker, the interlocutor is probably curious to know more about your origins. Use one of the suggested phrases:
Introduces Yourself in French Step 5 - J'habite à _ (dress a_): j-abit a (city).
- Je vis à _ (I live in _): je vì ah (place);
- Je suis de _ (I come from _): je suì de (place).
- Replace the blanks with the name of your city, state or country of origin. For example, if you are Italian you can say "Je suis de Italie".
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If it is appropriate for the situation, you can also state how old you are. Age isn't always a topic of conversation, but if you're young and introducing yourself to people older than you, it's worth knowing how to express this concept. Here are some examples:
Introduces Yourself in French Step 6 - J'ai _ ans (I am _ years old): j is (number) ahn. The final "s" is very delicate - more or less silent.
- Replace the blank with age. Read this article to learn the numbers.
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Introduce the people who are with you. Being able to introduce your chaperones is almost as important as introducing yourself - especially if their knowledge of French is quite limited. Use the phrases described here to allow your acquaintances to get in touch with strangers:
Introduces Yourself in French Step 7 - Je vous présente _ (I introduce you _): je vù preh-zont (name and / or title);
- Voices _ (here _): vuà-si (name and / or title).
- After saying the person's name, you should briefly describe the type of relationship they have with you. For example, you can say: "Voici Emma, ma femme" ("Here is Emma, my wife").
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Ask some basic questions. Once the introductions are over, the actual conversation can begin. Here are some basic questions you should have ready - your pronunciation and language properties don't need to be perfect to show interest in the interlocutor you just met:
Introduces Yourself in French Step 8 - Comment vous appelez-vous? (what is his name?): co-mahn vùz ah-pelè-vù?
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D'où êtes-vous? (Where is he from?): du eht-vù?
- Quel est votre profession? (what's his job?): kell is votr pro-fess-yon?
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Comment allez-vous? (how are you?): co-mahnt ah-lè-vù?
Advice
- When meeting someone for the first time, always use the courtesy pronoun vous, which is equivalent to the Italian "lei" or "you". Do not use the informal tu, unless you are talking about children, friends or loved ones.
- If you are a woman, be very careful when pronouncing the final part of "enchantée", in order to use the feminine form correctly.
- Don't be surprised if the French person you've just met greets you with two kisses on the cheeks - that's not an unusual gesture at all. Men typically shake hands with each other and kiss women, women kiss women and both kiss children. On the other hand, a hug is seen as too intimate a contact.
- How to Improve Your French
- How to Speak French
- How to Say Congratulations in French
- How to Speak Basic French
- How to say good morning in French
- How to Say Yes in French
- How to Say Thank You in French
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