Nice to meet you in French is Enchanté (ahn-shahn-TAY), written Enchantée if you are a woman; both sound the same. For something warmer or more formal, say Ravi de vous rencontrer (vous) or Ravi de te rencontrer (tu), with ravie for a woman. The usual reply is simply Enchanté(e) back.
- Nice to meet you
- Enchanté / Enchantée
- Fuller, vous
- Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer
- Fuller, tu
- Ravi(e) de te rencontrer
- Reply
- Enchanté(e) / Moi de même
- Level
- A1
Enchanté or ravi de vous rencontrer?
Enchanté is the one-word answer to an introduction, and it fits almost any setting: a friend's party, a meeting, a neighbour on the stairs. The ravi de… phrases add a little warmth, and faire votre connaissance (to make your acquaintance) is the most formal of all. The ending changes with the speaker, not the listener: a woman says enchantée and ravie whoever she is talking to.
| French | English | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Enchanté(e). | Nice to meet you. | Neutral; the standard |
| Ravi(e) de te rencontrer. | Really nice to meet you. | Warm, tu |
| Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer. | Really nice to meet you. | Warm, vous |
| Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance. | Delighted to make your acquaintance. | Formal, work and older people |
| Très heureux de vous connaître. | Very happy to meet you. | Formal; heureuse for a woman |
| Salut, moi c'est Léa. | Hi, I'm Léa. | Casual; young people often skip enchanté |
How do introductions go in French?
Someone usually does the introducing with je te présente or je vous présente (this is…, literally "I present to you"). Each person then says enchanté(e), often with their own name.
Je te présente ma sœur, Julie.
This is my sister, Julie.
Je vous présente Marc, mon collègue.
Let me introduce Marc, my colleague.
Enchantée, moi c'est Sophie.
Nice to meet you, I'm Sophie.
A woman speaking.
Moi de même.
Likewise.
A reply to enchanté or ravi de vous rencontrer.
What do you say when you leave someone you just met?
Switch to the past: Ravi(e) de vous avoir rencontré(e) means it was nice meeting you. Shorter and very French is Au plaisir !, short for au plaisir de vous revoir, hoping to see you again.
Ravie de t'avoir rencontré, Paul !
It was nice meeting you, Paul!
A woman speaking to a man.
Au plaisir de vous revoir.
I hope we meet again.
Polite.
C'était un plaisir.
It was a pleasure.
Handshake or la bise?
In business and with older people you don't know, a handshake goes with enchanté. Among friends of friends and at informal gatherings, la bise, a light kiss on each cheek, is common even at a first meeting. In Paris it is usually two kisses; elsewhere in France the number varies by region. If you are unsure, let the other person lead.
Read A1 French stories full of first meetings between neighbours, and tap any word for its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce enchanté?
"ahn-shahn-TAY". Both an sounds are nasal: let the air go through your nose and don't sound the n. The ch is soft, as in "shoe". Enchantée sounds exactly the same.
Is enchanté too formal?
No. It is the normal reply to an introduction for most adults. Teenagers and young people among themselves often skip it and just say salut with their name.
What does enchanté literally mean?
Enchanted, or delighted. The word has lost most of that force; it is a polite formula, much like "how do you do" once was in English.
How do you reply to enchanté?
Say enchanté or enchantée back, or moi de même (likewise). Adding your name is natural if you haven't given it yet.