# Which form of "Nice to meet you" in French is more easygoing and not too formal/strained? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515 "2014-09-15T00:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/1 "2014-09-15T00:13:06Z")
Hi, Which form of “Nice to meet you” in French is more easygoing and not too formal/strained? most everyday first meetings? In other words, I would like to know how natives would say “Nice to meet you” in everyday situations. I look forward to your feedback. davidmich Ravi de vous rencontrer Au plaisir de faire votre connaissance C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance. Heureux d’avoir fait votre connaissance Grand plaisir de te rencontrer. or simply formal: “ravi(e)” or “enchanté(e)”. c’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer informal: c’est un plaisir de te rencontrer ravi de t’avoir rencontré. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/2 "2014-09-15T01:14:09Z")
Why did they teach me to say “Enchanté” in high school? ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/3 "2014-09-15T01:43:55Z")
Enchanté is what my native French speaking girlfriend says is the only good answer. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/4 "2014-09-15T03:35:24Z")
Most of the possibilities listed are so formal as to be useless. They would be helpful with meeting ambassadors and kings, and maybe old people, but not much else. I would use either “enchanté” or “c’est un plaisir.” ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/5 "2014-09-15T06:45:33Z")
Radical Pi which age groups are “enchanté” or "c’est un plaisir."suitable for? Do people in their twenties or thirties use “enchanté”?. Is “c’est un plaisir” more neutral/practical in terms of age group addressed and circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/6 "2014-09-15T11:58:09Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > “ravi(e)” or “enchanté(e)”. I’m often bemused by cognates where the English meaning is much stronger than the French. “Enchanted” (_Some enchanted evening_ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ) and “ravished” (suggestive of rape!) would normally be too strong to use in English with a casual acquaintance. Checking [http://www.etymonline.com/](http://www.etymonline.com/) it seems the Old French words had strong meanings like the English cognates. Do they retain any such connotation in modern French? ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/7 "2014-09-15T15:19:01Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi, > > Which form of “Nice to meet you” in French is more easygoing and not too formal/strained? most everyday first meetings? In other words, I would like to know how natives would say “Nice to meet you” in everyday situations. I look forward to your feedback. > davidmich > > Ravi de vous rencontrer > Au plaisir de faire votre connaissance > C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance. > Heureux d’avoir fait votre connaissance > Grand plaisir de te rencontrer. > > Heureux d’avoir fait votre connaissance > or simply > > formal: > “ravi(e)” or “enchanté(e)”. > c’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer > informal: > c’est un plaisir de te rencontrer > ravi de t’avoir rencontré. “Ravi de vous rencontrer” : Rather formal but not surprising. “Au plaisir de faire votre connaissance” would mean that you didn’t meet the person yet. You’re saying that you’d be delighted to get to know him. “C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance” : very formal. “Heureux d’avoir fait votre connaissance” : formal. “Grand plaisir de te rencontrer.” : not correct. “C’est un grand plaisir de te rencontrer”, rather. It’s not even really that it’s formal, it’s that it’s unusual and emphatic. Whoever says that probably just came up with the sentence. “ravi(e)” : rarely used alone. Rather in a complete sentence, like “ravi de vous rencontrer” “enchanté(e)”. That’s the simplest and probably the most common, especially. I would use that if I had to pick one. But even that sounds a bit formal. I think the issue here is that “nice to meet you” is used much more commonly in English than any equivalent in French. I think a “nice to meet you” doesn’t carry much meaning, in the same way people are just saying “How are you” reflexively, without actually wanting to know about you health. While a “ravi de vous rencontrer” sounds like the person is being extra-polite (hence formal), or is actually pleased to meet you. So, what would a 20-30 yo meeting another 20-30 yo say? Probably none of the above. Or any of the above if he really wants to say he’s pleased to meet the other. “Content de te connaitre, depuis le temps qu’elle me parle de toi!”. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/8 "2014-09-15T15:43:09Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#): > > Most of the possibilities listed are so formal as to be useless. They would be helpful with meeting ambassadors and kings, and maybe old people, but not much else. > > I would use either “enchanté” or “c’est un plaisir.” My French is terrible, so I am not contradicting you, but my first reaction was, “C’est mon plaisir”. Is that also good? ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/9 "2014-09-16T11:46:38Z")
I’m going with “enchanté”. Thanks everyone. david ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/10 "2014-09-16T19:40:11Z")
It’s like those French have a different word for _everything_. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/11 "2014-09-16T22:39:49Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It’s like those French have a different word for _everything_. Tout. It’s a different word altogether. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/12 "2014-09-16T23:07:28Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > My French is terrible, so I am not contradicting you, but my first reaction was, “C’est mon plaisir”. Is that also good? In my opinion, the “mon” makes things a bit too personal for the sort of introduction I’m contemplating, but I wouldn’t say that it’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/13 "2014-09-17T02:12:22Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > …It’s a different word altogether. :: Stares at **Leo Bloom** :: It’s a different word. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/14 "2014-09-17T13:34:43Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > … > > I think the issue here is that “nice to meet you” is used much more commonly in English than any equivalent in French. I think a “nice to meet you” doesn’t carry much meaning, in the same way people are just saying “How are you” reflexively, without actually wanting to know about you health. While a “ravi de vous rencontrer” sounds like the person is being extra-polite (hence formal), or is actually pleased to meet you. > > … I think that’s the significant part - you get different answers when you frame the question as “What is the appropriate translation for "Nice to meet you"?” as the OP did, versus framing the question as “What is the appropriate response to a person introducing themselves or being introduced by a third person?”. What I did on the few instances of this type in France (always semiformal at most; in most cases being introduced to a family member or friend of the host at a meal) was simply to greet them (unless I had already greeted them in an anonymous capacity) - _c’est Louise notre petite-fille - bonjour Louise_ - Was that off base? FWIW that’s what I do in my native German where an expression of pleasure in meeting someone is pretty formal, unless there is a specific reason (“It’s nice to finally meet you - our daughter has told a lot about you”). ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/15 "2014-09-17T15:38:03Z")
In German you’d say “Nett Sie/dich/euch kennenzulernen” or simply “Sehr angenehm” ( (It’s a pleasure). I don’t think there is such a response as “Agréable”(Pleasure to meet you) in French, but I could be wrong. All French websites I’ve checked list only “Enchanté” as acceptable. Is it possible that many native French people simply dispense with it? When I meet someone for the first time, I sometimes say “Nice to meet you”. More often than not though, I simply say “How are you?” and get "How are you?"as a response. Perhaps the French are no different. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/16 "2014-09-17T17:18:02Z")
In Birmingham England, one party would say “Aww roit?” to which the correct response would be “Aww roit?” When I was last in France, A local would say “Ca va?” and the other would reply “Ca va.” ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-form-of-nice-to-meet-you-in-french-is-more-easygoing-and-not-too-formal-strained/698515/17 "2014-09-17T19:24:47Z")
Yes bob++. Spot on! I think that answers my question. I think young people and adults of all ages in France probably used “Ca va” much more often than “enchanté”.