French Phrase

Comment tu t'appelles ?

/kɔ.mɑ̃ ty ta.pɛl/

Meaning"What's your name?"

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Meaning

Literally, “How do you call yourself?” It is the most common informal way to ask someone’s name in French. The phrase is friendly and used among peers, classmates, or when a casual tone is appropriate.

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When to use

Use this phrase when meeting someone in an informal setting—friends, classmates, coworkers you’re on a first‑name basis with, or in a relaxed social environment. In formal contexts switch to the inversion form “Comment vous appelez‑vous ?”

✦Grammar Breakdown

Commenttut'appelles?

Comment

Interrogative adverb meaning 'how' or 'what', used to introduce a question.

tu

Second‑person singular subject pronoun; signals informal address.

t'

Elided form of the reflexive pronoun 'te' before a vowel; required with the verb appeler.

appelles

Present‑tense 2nd person singular of the verb 'appeler' (to call), used here in its reflexive construction.

Punctuation

The question mark indicates a spoken question; in written French the inversion form would end with a hyphen before the verb.