10 minutes · reading · grammar · conversation
Ask someone’s name
Ask for a name politely, then recognise the informal version.
Two ways to ask
French gives you two common versions of “What is your name?” The polite version uses vous. The informal version uses tu.
Start with Comment vous vous appelez ? when you meet an adult you do not know, a client or anyone in a more formal setting. Use Comment tu t’appelles ? with a child, friend or someone who has invited you to use tu.
Hear the whole exchange
Bonjour. Comment vous vous appelez ?
Translation
Hello. What is your name?
Je m’appelle Ana. Et vous ?
Translation
My name is Ana. And you?
Salut ! Comment tu t’appelles ?
Translation
Hi! What is your name?
Moi, c’est Tom. Enchanté !
Translation
I’m Tom. Nice to meet you!
Rule at a glance
Choose tu or vous
Use vous with an adult you do not know. Use tu with a child, a friend or someone who has offered it.
- Comment vous vous appelez ?
- What is your name? — polite
- Et vous ?
- And you? — polite
- Comment tu t’appelles ?
- What is your name? — informal
- Et toi ?
- And you? — informal
Build the complete sentence
Ask the name, then give your own
Ask with the tu or vous form.
Answer with je m’appelle, then hand the question back in the same register
Question word
- Comment
- What
Person
- tu
- you — informal
- vous
- you — polite
Verb
- t’appelles ?
- are called
- vous appelez ?
- are called
See the structure
Change the blocks
Keep the person and the verb in the same row: tu t’appelles, but vous vous appelez. Comment never changes.
Ask the new neighbour
You are meeting an adult neighbour for the first time.
Choose the safest question.
Complete the informal question
Build the polite question
Put the polite name question in order.
Save your progress when you are ready.
You can revisit every explanation and exercise at any time.