A1 · First conversations
French Greetings and Introductions
By the end, you can greet someone, say your name, ask the other person’s name, and close the conversation politely.
Core phrases
| French | Pronunciation / note | Natural English |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / Good day | |
| Salut | Hi — informal | |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | |
| Comment tu t’appelles ? | What is your name? — informal | |
| Je m’appelle … | My name is … | |
| Enchanté / Enchantée | Nice to meet you | |
| Comment ça va ? | How are things? | |
| Très bien, merci. | Very well, thank you. |
Notice the pattern
Use tu with friends and many peers. Use vous for polite or plural address: Comment vous appelez-vous ?
The greeting and question you choose can signal familiarity or respectful distance.
Model dialogue
Read this short first meeting aloud. Replace the name phrase with your own name.
A: Bonjour
B: Bonjour
A: Comment tu t’appelles ?
B: Je m’appelle …
A: Enchanté / Enchantée
A: Comment ça va ?
B: Très bien, merci.
Practice
- Match Bonjour with its natural English meaning.
- Complete the name-giving line with the phrase from the table.
- Choose the positive answer to “How are you?”
- Choose the best opening phrase for the model dialogue.
- Complete the name question with the core phrase from the table.
- Put four moves in order: greet, give your name, ask a name, close politely.
Check your answers
- 1 → Hello / Good day
- 2 → Je m’appelle …
- 3 → Très bien, merci.
- 4 → Bonjour
- 5 → Comment tu t’appelles ?
- 6: Answers vary; include a greeting, name, question, and polite close.
Create your four-line introduction
Write and say four lines: greet the person, give your name, ask their name, and finish with a polite meeting phrase. Choose the level of formality that fits the situation.