Introducing Yourself in french

Learn French Online 2013

Leçon 1 : Se présenter - Lesson 1: Introducing Yourself

Dialogue : learn french online 

Two good friends—Marie and Jean—are meeting:

• Marie: Salut Jean. Ça va ?
• Jean: Ça va bien, merci. Et toi, ça va ?
• Marie: Pas mal.
• Jean: Quoi de neuf ?
• Marie: Pas grand-chose.
• Marie: Au revoir Jean.
• Jean: Au revoir, à demain. 

Vocabulary 1

bonjour, salut              ////              hello (formal), hi (informal)

Comment allez-vous? (formal),comment ça va?/ça va ? (informal)   ////       how are you?

ça va bien    ////    I'm doing well (lit. I'm going well)

merci    ////    thank you

et toi ? et vous ?   ////     and you? (informal) and you? (formal)

pas mal   ////     not bad
bien    ////    good 

pas si bien/pas très bien   ////    not so well
comme ci, comme ça   ////    so-so
Désolé(e)   ////    I'm sorry.
quoi de neuf ?    ////   what's up (about you)? (lit. what's new)
pas grand-chose   ////    not much (lit. not big-thing)
au revoir   ////   bye (lit. with reseeing, akin to German auf Wiedersehen)
à demain    ////   see you tomorrow (lit. at tomorrow)
Au revoir, à demain.    ////   Bye, see you tomorrow 

Dialogue 2 learn french online 2013

Two people—Monsieur Bernard and Monsieur Lambert—are meeting for the first time:

• Monsieur Bernard : Bonjour. Comment vous appelez-vous ?
• Monsieur Lambert : Je m'appelle Jean-Paul Lambert. Et vous ?
• Monsieur Bernard : Moi, je suis Marc Bernard. Enchanté.
• Monsieur Lambert : Enchanté.  

Vocabulary 2 

Bonjour   ////   Hello; Good day
Comment vous appelez-vous?/Quel est votre nom?    ////  What is your name? (formal) (lit. how are you called)
Tu t'appelles comment?    ////  What is your name? (informal)
Je m'appelle...    ////  My name is... (lit. I am called...)
Vous    ////  You (formal)
Moi   ////   Me
Je    ////  I
Je suis...   ////   I am...
Enchanté(e).    ////  Nice to meet you (lit. enchanted)

Vous vs. tu
It is important to know when to use "vous" and when to use "tu" in French. "Vous" is a plural form of "you". This is somewhat equivalent to "y'all", "youse", "you guys", "all of you", except that it is much more formal than all but the latter example.
"Vous" is also used to refer to single individuals to show respect, to be polite or to be neutral. It is used
in occasions when talking to someone who is important, someone who is older than you are, or
someone you are unfamiliar with. Note the conversation between M. Bernard and M. Lambert

above asan example of this use.

Conversely, "tu" is the singular and informal form of "vous" (you) in French. It is commonly used
when referring to a friend and a family member, and also used between children or when addressing a
child. If it is used when speaking to a stranger, it signals disrespect.
As a rule of thumb, use "tu" only when you would call that person by his first name, otherwise use
"vous". French people will make it known when they would like you to refer to them by "tu".