Appeler vs. s'appeler
'Appeler' and 's'appeler' are French verbs that are related to the act of calling. Understanding their use is fundamental for proper communication in French, as they are commonly used in both written and spoken language.
Appeler
'Appeler' directly translates as 'to call' and is used when one person calls another person or thing. It can also be used in a variety of contexts, such as to summon someone or something, to make a phone call, or to give a name.
Je vais appeler Paul au téléphone.
(I'm going to call Paul on the phone.)
Peux-tu appeler un taxi ?
(Can you call a taxi?)
Ils vont appeler leur fille Élise.
(They are going to name their daughter Elise.)
S'appeler
'S'appeler' is a reflexive form of 'appeler' and means 'to be called' or 'to call oneself'. It is used when the subject is also the object, i.e. when referring to oneself, as in saying one's name.
Comment t'appelles-tu ?
(What is your name?)
Elle s'appelle Marie.
(Her name is Marie.)
Nous nous appelons Jean et Luc.
(Our names are Jean and Luc.)
Summary
In summary, while both 'appeler' and 's'appeler' refer to the concept of calling, 'appeler' is used for calling others or naming things, whereas 's'appeler' refers to what someone is called or calling oneself by name.