If you want to impress your friends and relatives with some of the French you are learning here so far, you can learn these quick dialogues. They are simple patterns you should use when asking somebody’s name and when introducing yourself:
Q: –Comment vous appelez-vous? What’s your name? (Here, you are being formal)
A: –Je m’appelle François Dupont. My name is François Dupont.
Q: –Comment t’appelles-tu? What’s your name? (Here, you are being casual)
A: –Je m’appelle Sylvie. My name is Sylvie.
Q: –Comment s’appelle-t-il? What’s his name?
A: –Il s’appelle Claude. His name is Claude.
Q: –Comment s’appelle-t-elle? What’s her name?
A: –Elle s’appelle Marie. Her name is Mary.
Q: –Qui est-ce? Who is that?
A: –C’est Marc. It’s Mark.
Need more explanations on this topic? Access the full lesson here.
I have heard introductions also as: Moi, c’est Diana (or other name). Is this correct? Is it too informal? When would you use one versus the other?
Oui, “Moi, c’est Diana” is correct!!!. And as for being “too informal”, I don’t really think so; Personally, I will sometimes use this sentence even with people I meet for the first time, and without fearing being too casual. I will use this expression especially AFTER they have told me their name first. For example:
Person 1: Bonjour, je m’appelle X.
Merci.
Myself: Et moi, c’est Herman!(However, it seems more natural to use je m’appelle… when asked the question comment vous appelez-vous?. Hope this answers your question
Herman