Introducing yourself in French : complete course

What Does ‘Se présenter en français’ Mean?

Se présenter en français means introducing yourself in French. It is one of the first and most important skills you will learn. When you meet someone for the first time, you need to share basic information about yourself, like your name, your age, and where you come from.

This skill is simple but very powerful. It opens the door to every conversation in French.

• — Bonjour, je m’appelle Marie. (Hello, my name is Marie.)
• — Salut ! Moi, c’est Lucas. (Hi! I’m Lucas.)
• — Je suis américain et j’habite à Paris. (I am American and I live in Paris.)

Les éléments de ‘Se présenter en français’

When you introduce yourself in French, there are several key pieces of information you can share. Let’s look at the main ones.

Your Name — Votre prénom

The most natural way to say your name in French is:

• Je m’appelle + your name → Je m’appelle Sofia. (My name is Sofia.)
• Moi, c’est + your name → Moi, c’est Tom. (I’m Tom.) — more informal
• Je suis + your name → Je suis Anna. (I am Anna.) — also common

‘Je m’appelle’ is the most classic and widely taught expression. Use it confidently in any situation.

Your Nationality and Origin — Votre nationalité et origine

French has two ways to express where you are from:

Note: In French, nationalities are not capitalized. You write je suis français, not je suis Français.

Your Age — Votre âge

To say your age in French, you use the verb avoir (to have), not ‘to be’ like in English. This is a key difference!

• J’ai vingt ans. (I am twenty years old.)
• J’ai trente-cinq ans. (I am thirty-five years old.)

The structure is: J’ai + number + ans. Never say ‘je suis vingt ans’ — that is a very common mistake!

Your Job or Studies — Votre métier ou études

You can also mention what you do:

• Je suis étudiant(e). (I am a student.)
• Je suis professeur. (I am a teacher.)
• Je travaille dans une banque. (I work in a bank.)

Why Knowing How to Introduce Yourself in French Matters

Introducing yourself is the starting point of every social interaction. Whether you travel to France, talk to a French-speaking colleague, or take a French class, this skill is essential.

It also builds your confidence. When you can introduce yourself clearly, you feel ready to go further. It is your first real step into the French language.

Finally, it helps you connect with people. French speakers appreciate when you make an effort to speak their language, even if it is just a few sentences.

Comparaison avec d’autres langues

It is useful to compare French with languages you may already know. Here are some key differences and similarities:

Notice that French and Spanish both use ‘to have’ (avoir / tener) for age, while English uses ‘to be.’ This is an important grammar point to remember!

Exemple complet

Here is a short and complete self-introduction in French. Read it out loud to practice!

• Bonjour ! (Hello!)
• Je m’appelle Clara. (My name is Clara.)
• J’ai vingt-huit ans. (I am twenty-eight years old.)
• Je suis canadienne. (I am Canadian.)
• Je viens de Montréal. (I come from Montreal.)
• Je suis étudiante en langues. (I am a languages student.)
• Enchanté(e) ! (Nice to meet you!)

This is a natural and complete introduction. You can replace each detail with your own information and use it right away!

Points à retenir

• Use je m’appelle to say your name — it is the most common expression.
• Use j’ai + number + ans to say your age — never use ‘je suis’ for age!
• Use je suis + nationality — but do not capitalize the nationality.
• Use je viens de to say where you come from.
• Use j’habite à to say where you live.
• End with enchanté(e) to say ‘nice to meet you’ — a very French touch!

Introducing yourself in French is simple, fun, and incredibly useful. Practice these phrases every day and you will feel more confident very quickly. Bonne chance !

Sources

• Conseil de l’Europe — Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CECRL), 2001. Available at: coe.int
• TV5Monde — Apprendre le français, ressources pédagogiques en ligne. Available at: apprendre.tv5monde.com
• Larousse — Dictionnaire et ressources grammaticales en ligne. Available at: larousse.fr