1. Start with Basic Greetings

Before introducing yourself, it’s customary to greet the person you’re speaking to.

• Bonjour ! – Good morning / Good afternoon!
• Salut ! – Hi! (informal)
• Bonsoir ! – Good evening!

Example:

• Bonjour ! – Good morning!

2. Introducing Your Name

In French, you can introduce your name using a few different phrases:

• Je m’appelle [name]. – My name is [name].
• Moi, c’est [name]. – I am [name]. (more informal)
• Mon nom est [name]. – My name is [name]. (formal)

Example:

• Je m’appelle Marie. – My name is Marie.
• Moi, c’est Jean. – I am Jean.

3. Talking About Your Age

To say your age, use the verb avoir (to have) followed by the number of years. In French, you “have” a certain number of years rather than “being” that age.

• J’ai [number] ans. – I am [number] years old.

Example:

• J’ai 25 ans. – I am 25 years old.

4. Mentioning Your Occupation

When talking about your job, use Je suis (I am) followed by your profession. If you’re a student or unemployed, there are specific phrases for that too.

• Je suis [occupation]. – I am [occupation].
• Je suis étudiant(e). – I am a student. (The “e” at the end is added for females)
• Je suis au chômage. – I am unemployed.

Example:

• Je suis médecin. – I am a doctor.
• Je suis professeur. – I am a teacher.
• Je suis étudiante en biologie. – I am a biology student.

5. Relationship Status

In French, there are various ways to describe your relationship status:

• Je suis célibataire. – I am single.
• Je suis marié(e). – I am married.
• J’ai un(e) petit(e) ami(e). – I have a boyfriend/girlfriend.
• Je suis fiancé(e). – I am engaged.
• Je suis divorcé(e). – I am divorced.

Example:

• Je suis mariée. – I am married. (feminine)
• Je suis célibataire. – I am single.

6. Talking About Your Family

You can describe your family by mentioning your children, siblings, or general family setup.

• J’ai [number] enfant(s). – I have [number] child(ren).
• J’ai un frère et une sœur. – I have a brother and a sister.
• Je vis avec mes parents. – I live with my parents.

Example:

• J’ai deux enfants. – I have two children.
• J’ai une grande famille. – I have a big family.

7. Where You Live

To describe where you live, use the following phrases:

• J’habite à [city]. – I live in [city].
• J’habite en [country]. – I live in [country] (for feminine countries like France, Italy, etc.).
• J’habite au [country]. – I live in [country] (for masculine countries like Canada, Japan, etc.).
• J’habite aux [country]. – I live in [country] (for plural countries like the United States, the Netherlands, etc.).

Example:

• J’habite à Paris. – I live in Paris.
• J’habite en France. – I live in France.
• J’habite aux États-Unis. – I live in the United States.

8. Likes and Dislikes

To express things you like or dislike, use J’aime (I like) or Je n’aime pas (I don’t like).

• J’aime [noun/verb]. – I like [noun/verb].
• Je n’aime pas [noun/verb]. – I don’t like [noun/verb].

To make it stronger, you can use adorer (to love) or détester (to hate):

• J’adore [noun/verb]. – I love [noun/verb].
• Je déteste [noun/verb]. – I hate [noun/verb].

Example:

• J’aime lire des livres. – I like reading books.
• Je n’aime pas le chocolat. – I don’t like chocolate.
• J’adore voyager. – I love traveling.
• Je déteste faire le ménage. – I hate doing housework.

9. Additional Details

You can add more personal details if the conversation is friendly, or you want to share more about yourself.

• Mon passe-temps préféré est [hobby]. – My favorite hobby is [hobby].
• Je parle [languages]. – I speak [languages].
• Je suis passionné(e) de [interest]. – I am passionate about [interest].

Example:

• Mon passe-temps préféré est le jardinage. – My favorite hobby is gardening.
• Je parle anglais et espagnol. – I speak English and Spanish.
• Je suis passionnée de musique. – I am passionate about music.

10. Closing Your Introduction

You can conclude your introduction with phrases like:

• Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance. – Nice to meet you.
• Enchanté(e). – Pleased to meet you.

Example:

• Ravi de faire votre connaissance. – Nice to meet you. (masculine)
• Enchantée ! – Pleased to meet you. (feminine)

Putting It All Together: Example Introductions

Example 1: Formal Introduction

Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Pierre Dubois, j’ai 30 ans. Je suis ingénieur et je travaille à Paris. Je suis marié et j’ai un enfant. J’habite en France, à Lyon. J’aime lire, voyager, et faire du sport. Je parle français et anglais. Enchanté de faire votre connaissance.

(Translation: “Hello! My name is Pierre Dubois, I am 30 years old. I am an engineer and I work in Paris. I am married and have one child. I live in France, in Lyon. I like reading, traveling, and doing sports. I speak French and English. Pleased to meet you.”)

Example 2: Casual Introduction

Salut ! Moi, c’est Sophie. J’ai 22 ans et je suis étudiante en médecine. Je suis célibataire et j’habite à Bordeaux. J’adore la musique et je n’aime pas du tout le football. Je vis avec mes parents et j’ai un frère. À bientôt !

(Translation: “Hi! I’m Sophie. I’m 22 years old and I’m a medical student. I’m single and I live in Bordeaux. I love music and I don’t like football at all. I live with my parents and I have a brother. See you soon!”)

Vocabulary Recap

Practice Exercises

1. Introduce Yourself: Write a paragraph introducing yourself, including your name, age, job, relationship status, and where you live.

2. Likes and Dislikes: Write 3 sentences about things you like and 3 sentences about things you don’t like.

No Attachment Found