Introducing yourself is one of the first things you should learn in French. 

Whether you are traveling to France, joining a French class, meeting new people, or practicing for an exam, you need to know how to say who you are, where you are from, what you do, and why you are learning French.

The good news is that you do not need complicated grammar to introduce yourself in French. With a few simple phrases, you can already have a basic conversation.

In this guide, you will learn how to introduce yourself in French using 50 useful beginner-friendly phrases.

You will learn how to talk about your name, age, nationality, city, job, studies, family, hobbies, and French learning journey.

Let’s begin.

How to Say “My Name Is” in French

The most common way to say “my name is” in French is:

Je m’appelle...
My name is...

For example:

Je m’appelle Sophie.
My name is Sophie.

Literally, je m’appelle means “I call myself,” but in natural English, we translate it as “my name is.”

You can also say:

Moi, c’est Sophie.
I’m Sophie.

This is more casual and very common in spoken French.

For a more formal situation, you can simply say:

Je suis Sophie.
I am Sophie.

All three are correct, but je m’appelle is the best one to learn first.

50 Useful Phrases to Introduce Yourself in French

Here are 50 useful French phrases you can use to introduce yourself naturally.

Basic French Introduction Phrases

1. Bonjour.
   Hello.
2. Salut.
   Hi.
3. Bonsoir.
   Good evening.
4. Je m’appelle...
   My name is...
5. Moi, c’est...
   I’m...
6. Je suis...
   I am...
7. Enchanté.
   Nice to meet you, said by a man.
8. Enchantée.
   Nice to meet you, said by a woman.
9. Ravi de vous rencontrer.
   Nice to meet you, formal or polite.
10. Ravie de vous rencontrer.
    Nice to meet you, formal or polite, said by a woman.

Examples:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Claire. Enchantée.
Hello, my name is Claire. Nice to meet you.

Salut, moi c’est Thomas.
Hi, I’m Thomas.

Saying Where You Are From in French

Use je viens de... to say where you are from.

11. Je viens de France.
    I come from France.
12. Je viens des États-Unis.
    I come from the United States.
13. Je viens du Canada.
    I come from Canada.
14. Je viens d’Angleterre.
    I come from England.
15. Je suis français.
    I am French, said by a man.
16. Je suis française.
    I am French, said by a woman.
17. Je suis américain.
    I am American, said by a man.
18. Je suis américaine.
    I am American, said by a woman.
19. Je suis canadien.
    I am Canadian, said by a man.
20. Je suis canadienne.
    I am Canadian, said by a woman.

Examples:

Je m’appelle Emma et je viens des États-Unis.
My name is Emma and I come from the United States.

Je suis canadienne.
I am Canadian.

A quick grammar note: nationalities often change depending on whether the person is masculine or feminine.

For example:

américain becomes américaine
français becomes française
canadien becomes canadienne

Saying Where You Live in French

To say where you live, use j’habite à...

21. J’habite à Paris.
    I live in Paris.
22. J’habite à New York.
    I live in New York.
23. J’habite en France.
    I live in France.
24. J’habite aux États-Unis.
    I live in the United States.
25. J’habite au Canada.
    I live in Canada.
26. J’habite dans une petite ville.
    I live in a small town.
27. J’habite dans une grande ville.
    I live in a big city.
28. J’habite à la campagne.
    I live in the countryside.

Examples:

J’habite à Miami, aux États-Unis.
I live in Miami, in the United States.

J’habite dans une petite ville près de Paris.
I live in a small town near Paris.

Saying Your Age in French

In French, you use the verb avoir to talk about age.

In English, you say “I am 30 years old.”

In French, you say:

J’ai 30 ans.
I am 30 years old.

Literally, it means “I have 30 years.”

29. J’ai vingt ans.
    I am twenty years old.
30. J’ai trente ans.
    I am thirty years old.
31. J’ai quarante ans.
    I am forty years old.
32. J’ai cinquante ans.
    I am fifty years old.
33. J’ai vingt-cinq ans.
    I am twenty-five years old.
34. J’ai trente-deux ans.
    I am thirty-two years old.

Examples:

Je m’appelle Julie et j’ai vingt-huit ans.
My name is Julie and I am twenty-eight years old.

J’ai trente ans et j’habite à Montréal.
I am thirty years old and I live in Montreal.

Common mistake:

Do not say:

Je suis trente ans.

Say:

J’ai trente ans.

Talking About Your Job in French

To talk about your job, you can use je suis, which means “I am.”

35. Je suis professeur.
    I am a teacher.
36. Je suis étudiant.
    I am a student, said by a man.
37. Je suis étudiante.
    I am a student, said by a woman.
38. Je suis médecin.
    I am a doctor.
39. Je suis ingénieur.
    I am an engineer.
40. Je suis infirmier.
    I am a nurse, said by a man.
41. Je suis infirmière.
    I am a nurse, said by a woman.
42. Je travaille dans une école.
    I work in a school.
43. Je travaille dans un bureau.
    I work in an office.
44. Je travaille à la maison.
    I work from home.

Examples:

Je suis professeur et je travaille dans une école.
I am a teacher and I work in a school.

Je travaille à la maison.
I work from home.

A useful grammar note: when you talk about your profession with je suis, you usually do not use un or une.

Say:

Je suis professeur.
I am a teacher.

Not:

Je suis un professeur.

Talking About Your Hobbies in French

To talk about what you like, use j’aime, which means “I like” or “I love.”

45. J’aime voyager.
    I like traveling.
46. J’aime lire.
    I like reading.
47. J’aime cuisiner.
    I like cooking.
48. J’aime écouter de la musique.
    I like listening to music.
49. J’aime regarder des films.
    I like watching movies.
50. J’aime apprendre le français.
    I like learning French.

Examples:

J’aime voyager et découvrir de nouvelles cultures.
I like traveling and discovering new cultures.

J’aime apprendre le français parce que c’est une belle langue.
I like learning French because it is a beautiful language.

Bonus Phrases to Talk About Your French Learning

Once you have introduced yourself, you may want to explain why you are learning French.

Here are a few extra phrases you can use:

J’apprends le français.
I am learning French.

Je suis débutant.
I am a beginner, said by a man.

Je suis débutante.
I am a beginner, said by a woman.

Je parle un peu français.
I speak a little French.

Je ne parle pas très bien français.
I do not speak French very well.

Je comprends un peu.
I understand a little.

Je veux améliorer mon français.
I want to improve my French.

J’apprends le français pour voyager.
I am learning French to travel.

J’apprends le français pour le travail.
I am learning French for work.

J’apprends le français parce que j’aime la France.
I am learning French because I love France.

These phrases are very useful in real conversations because they help explain your level and your goals.

How to Ask Someone to Introduce Themselves in French

A conversation is not only about talking about yourself. You also need to ask questions.

Here are some useful questions:

Comment tu t’appelles ?
What is your name? Informal.

Comment vous vous appelez ?
What is your name? Formal or plural.

Tu viens d’où ?
Where are you from? Informal.

Vous venez d’où ?
Where are you from? Formal or plural.

Tu habites où ?
Where do you live? Informal.

Vous habitez où ?
Where do you live? Formal or plural.

Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
What do you do for a living? Informal.

Vous faites quoi dans la vie ?
What do you do for a living? Formal or plural.

Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire ?
What do you like to do? Informal.

Pourquoi tu apprends le français ?
Why are you learning French? Informal.

Examples:

Comment tu t’appelles ?
What is your name?

Je m’appelle Clara. Et toi ?
My name is Clara. And you?

Tu viens d’où ?
Where are you from?

Je viens du Canada.
I come from Canada.

A Simple French Self-Introduction for Beginners

Here is a short and easy self-introduction in French:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Sarah. J’ai trente ans et je viens des États-Unis. J’habite à Miami. Je suis étudiante et j’apprends le français. J’aime voyager, lire et écouter de la musique. Enchantée !

Translation:

Hello, my name is Sarah. I am thirty years old and I come from the United States. I live in Miami. I am a student and I am learning French. I like traveling, reading, and listening to music. Nice to meet you!

This is a great structure to copy when you are just starting.

You can change the name, age, country, city, job, and hobbies to make it personal.

A More Natural French Introduction

Here is a slightly more natural version:

Salut, moi c’est Lucas. Je viens du Canada, mais j’habite à Paris maintenant. Je travaille dans un bureau et j’apprends le français depuis six mois. J’aime le sport, les voyages et la cuisine française. Ravi de te rencontrer !

Translation:

Hi, I’m Lucas. I come from Canada, but I live in Paris now. I work in an office and I have been learning French for six months. I like sports, travel, and French food. Nice to meet you!

This version sounds a little more conversational and relaxed.

Formal vs Informal Introductions in French

French has two ways to say “you”: tu and vous.

Use tu in casual situations, with friends, family, classmates, children, or people your age.

Use vous in formal situations, with strangers, teachers, clients, older people, or people you want to show respect to.

Informal example:

Salut, tu t’appelles comment ?
Hi, what is your name?

Formal example:

Bonjour, comment vous vous appelez ?
Hello, what is your name?

Informal example:

Tu viens d’où ?
Where are you from?

Formal example:

Vous venez d’où ?
Where are you from?

When in doubt, use vous. It is safer and more polite.

Common Mistakes When Introducing Yourself in French

Here are a few mistakes beginners often make.

Mistake 1: Saying “Je suis 25 ans”

In French, age uses avoir, not être.

Correct:

J’ai vingt-cinq ans.
I am twenty-five years old.

Incorrect:

Je suis vingt-cinq ans.

Mistake 2: Saying “Je suis un professeur”

With professions, French usually does not use un or une after je suis.

Correct:

Je suis professeur.
I am a teacher.

Incorrect:

Je suis un professeur.

However, you can say:

C’est un professeur.
He is a teacher.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Feminine Forms

Some words change depending on whether you are male or female.

Examples:

Je suis étudiant.
I am a student, said by a man.

Je suis étudiante.
I am a student, said by a woman.

Je suis français.
I am French, said by a man.

Je suis française.
I am French, said by a woman.

Mistake 4: Translating Word for Word From English

English and French do not always use the same structure.

For example, in English you say:

I am learning French.

In French, you say:

J’apprends le français.

You do not need to say:

Je suis apprenant le français.

Mistake 5: Using “Salut” in Very Formal Situations

Salut means “hi” or “bye.” It is casual.

With a stranger, a teacher, or a client, use bonjour instead.

Correct in a formal situation:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Antoine.

Better with friends:

Salut, moi c’est Antoine.

How to Practice Introducing Yourself in French

The best way to remember these phrases is to use them right away.

Start by writing a short introduction with five sentences:

1. Your name
2. Your age
3. Where you are from
4. Where you live
5. What you like

For example:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Anna. J’ai vingt-sept ans. Je viens des États-Unis. J’habite à Chicago. J’aime voyager et apprendre le français.

Then read it out loud several times.

After that, try saying it without looking.

You can also record yourself and listen back. This helps you improve your pronunciation and sound more natural.

Practice Exercise: Complete the Sentences

Complete these French sentences with your own information.

1. Bonjour, je m’appelle...
2. J’ai... ans.
3. Je viens de...
4. J’habite à...
5. Je suis...
6. Je travaille dans...
7. J’aime...
8. J’apprends le français parce que...

Example:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Emily. J’ai trente ans. Je viens des États-Unis. J’habite à Boston. Je suis infirmière. Je travaille dans un hôpital. J’aime voyager et cuisiner. J’apprends le français parce que j’aime la culture française.

Practice Exercise: Translate Into French

Try translating these sentences into French.

1. Hello, my name is Marie.
2. I am twenty years old.
3. I come from Canada.
4. I live in New York.
5. I am a student.
6. I work from home.
7. I like reading.
8. I am learning French.
9. I speak a little French.
10. Nice to meet you.

Answers:

1. Bonjour, je m’appelle Marie.
2. J’ai vingt ans.
3. Je viens du Canada.
4. J’habite à New York.
5. Je suis étudiant.
   For a woman: Je suis étudiante.
6. Je travaille à la maison.
7. J’aime lire.
8. J’apprends le français.
9. Je parle un peu français.
10. Enchanté.
    For a woman: Enchantée.

Keep Practicing Your French Introduction

Learning how to introduce yourself in French is a perfect first step toward real conversation.

Start with simple phrases like je m’appelle, j’habite, je viens de, j’ai... ans, and j’aime. Then slowly add more details about your job, hobbies, family, and reasons for learning French.

You do not need to say everything perfectly. The goal is to communicate clearly and naturally.

Practice your introduction out loud until it feels comfortable. Then use it the next time you meet someone in French.