This French A1 lesson explains introduce yourself in French step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on introduce yourself in French and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: To introduce yourself in French, say your name with Je m’appelle…, your job or nationality with Je suis…, and your town with J’habite à…. With a stranger, a colleague or a customer, use vous by default and add Enchanté(e) at the end.
Level: French A1 (CEFR beginner) · Standards: CEFR A1, Spoken interaction
Introduce yourself in French: the lesson
How do you say your name, job and city in French?
On your first day in a new job in Lyon, at a language school in Montréal or at a neighborhood meeting in Bordeaux, you will need the same three sentences. Learn them as a block.
The three core sentences
- Je m’appelle Awa Diallo. — My name is Awa Diallo.
- Je suis infirmière. — I am a nurse.
- J’habite à Dakar. — I live in Dakar.
Which verbs do you need?
| Pronoun | être | habiter | s’appeler |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | suis | habite | m’appelle |
| vous | êtes | habitez | vous appelez |
| il / elle | est | habite | s’appelle |
Je becomes j’ before a vowel or a silent h: j’habite, j’ai.
How do you ask the other person?
Formal questions with vous
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? — What is your name?
- Quelle est votre profession ? — What is your job?
- Où habitez-vous ? — Where do you live?
- Vous êtes de quelle ville ? — Which city are you from?
Watch out
English needs “a” before a job: “I am a nurse.” French leaves it out: Je suis infirmière, not Je suis une infirmière. Also, remember that à goes before a town: J’habite à Lyon, not J’habite Lyon.
How do you add your nationality and origin?
Nationality works like a job: no article, and the ending changes for a woman. Add an -e in writing for a feminine speaker; the sound often changes too.
| Man | Woman | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je suis canadien. | Je suis canadienne. | I am Canadian. |
| Je suis sénégalais. | Je suis sénégalaise. | I am Senegalese. |
| Je suis américain. | Je suis américaine. | I am American. |
To say where you are from, use Je suis de Québec. — I am from Québec. Then add your current town: Je suis de Québec, mais j’habite à Paris. — I am from Québec, but I live in Paris.
Vous or tu?
In France and Québec, adults who do not know each other say vous. Colleagues often move to tu after a few days, but wait until the other person suggests it.
Zoé’s tip
Finish with Enchanté (man) or Enchantée (woman) while you shake hands. It sounds warm and it buys you a second to breathe.
Key points to remember
- Je m’appelle gives your name; Je suis gives job, nationality or feeling.
- J’habite à + city tells where you live.
- Jobs and nationalities after je suis take no article: Je suis ingénieur.
- Use vous with strangers and at work until the other person offers tu.
Saying Who You Are in French: frequently asked questions
How do I say my name in French?
Say Je m’appelle followed by your name, for example Je m’appelle Karim. You can also say Moi, c’est Karim in a relaxed setting.
Why is there no article before a job in French?
After être, a job behaves like an adjective. So French says Je suis cuisinier and not “Je suis un cuisinier” when you simply state your profession.
Should I use tu or vous when I introduce myself?
Use vous with anyone you do not know, with older people and in professional settings. Switch to tu only when the other person does.
When do I write j’ instead of je?
Write j’ when the next word starts with a vowel or a silent h, as in j’habite. The two words are pronounced as one.
How do I say where I am from?
Use Je suis de + city or country: Je suis de Montréal. It tells where you come from, while j’habite à tells where you live now.