Make Introductions: Avoid This

Embarrassing Mistake!
Salut!

It’s not always easy to introduce two people to each other. Even in your own language! But if
you don’t, your friends will feel left out of the conversation. And it’s always fun to create more
bonds between people you know and like. Today, I want to help you do the same for your
French friends.

I’m Géraldine, bienvenue sur Comme une Française TV, Sound French, even to the French!
Let’s dive in!

1. Faire les présentations

Faire les présentations ​means “to introduce several people to each other.”
We also use ​présenter [quelqu’un] à [quelqu’un d’autre]​, “to introduce someone to someone
else.”
If you’re already familiar with my episode about Embarrassing Mistakes, you will already know
this : do ​not ​use ​introduire​ to mean ​présenter / faire les présentations​.
If you don’t know or don’t remember why, you’ll find a link to the episode in the video description
on the blog!

So who can you introduce?

Des inconnus​, strangers? Probably not. Probably ​des amis​, friends, instead, in the hope of
creating ​un ami commun​, a mutual friend.

People who often introduce people to each other to create new relationships are sometimes
called ​un entremetteur / une entremetteuse​, a matchmaker. To be honest, it’s rarely used
nowadays, and the word especially deals with creating romantic relationships rather than just
friendships.

2. Comment faire les présentations

So, practically, ​comment faire les présentation​, how can you make introductions, in French?
Well, first of all, you need to be helpful and respectful, and to make people feel at ease with
each other.

Technically, you should always introduce people of a lower social rank to your friends of higher
social rank first: you introduce men to women first, younger people to older people, your
colleagues to your boss… But it can get messy, so just do it the way that feels right.

The full video lesson is available at: ​https://www.commeunefrancaise.com/

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So let’s get onto specific scripts!
First, the most straightforward one, when you’re introduce Michel and Anne to each other:
Michel, Anne. Anne, Michel.
[+ geste appropriés pour désigner l’un et l’autre en même temps.]

This is better than no introduction, but still, it’s only providing the minimal level of helpfulness.
A less ‘barebones’ introduction could be by using the verb ​présenter​, and including ​un point
commun​, a common point, within the conversation. A topic or an event you think they could talk
about, without you around.

For instance, first:

Anne, je te présente Michel, il est alpiniste.

Anne, let me introduce Michel, he’s a mountaineer.
Then​:

Michel, je te présente Anne, elle a grimpé l’Everest sur un seul pied en 2010.
Michel, here is Anne, she climbed up the mount Everest on one foot in 2010.

3. Comment répondre
Comment répondre​, how to answer, is also a central part of the introduction, if you’re on the
receiving end of one. Don’t flail around looking for words, while mumbling or stonewalling your
new acquaintance!

The codified answer is: ​Enchanté(e)​, or “Nice to meet you.”

A bit more colloquial, ​Coucou​, or “Hi,” will also do the job.

But the most important part is to follow-up in the conversation!

For instance, after your friend introduced you to Michel the mountaineer, you could try:

Ah bon ? Oh, moi aussi je suis alpiniste. Tu es du coin ?

Oh really? Well, I’m a mountaineer too. Are you from around?

Or as a go-to answer, try to ask how they know your common friend. For instance:
Et comment tu connais Robert?
And how do you know Robert?

4. Introducing yourself
Finally, sometimes, you might need to nudge your friend into making introductions. Or even do it
yourself!

The full video lesson is available at: ​https://www.commeunefrancaise.com/

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Of course you all know ​Bonjour, je m’appelle [Exemple] ​Hello, my name is Example, etc, as
you’ve seen this lesson before.

But you might rather want to ask ​Tu me présentes à ton ami ?​ or “Can you introduce me to your
friend?”
Having someone else introduce you can help you fit in better, like she’s vouching for you in a
way. And that common friend might know right away what are your common points and things
you should know about each other.

But other times, you’ll just need to ask it yourself:

Comment tu t’appelles ?
What’s your name?
Coucou, ça va ?
Hi, how are you?

Or plainly: ​Quoi de neuf ?​ What’s up?

Et toi ?
When did you last introduce two people to each other?

Tell me in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you!

If you’re on Youtube, you’ll find a link below this video to the blog CommeUneFrançaise.com.
On the site I read all the comments and answer all your questions too!

Want more? Like an exclusive lessons on “How to react when you don’t understand a word in a
French conversation”? Subscribe now to join my “Everyday French Crash Course.”
It’s a free 10-day mini-course to sound French, even to the French. It’s super easy to join. Leave
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Merci for watching Comme une Française TV, sound French, even to the French.

Allez, salut !

The full video lesson is available at: ​https://www.commeunefrancaise.com/