#289 Confirming the Name of the Person in Charge Over the Phone｜French Business Phrases

When you call a company or a store, there may be situations where you need to contact the same person again later or keep a record of the person who assisted you. In such cases, it is useful to know how to confirm the name of the person in charge.

Because you cannot see the other person during a phone call, you may not always catch their name clearly or know how to spell it. For this reason, I recommend learning a few polite expressions for confirming someone’s name.

In this article, I will explain useful French expressions for confirming the name of the person in charge over the phone, along with important grammar points.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. Je voudrais parler au responsable de ma réservation.
（Hello. I would like to speak with the person responsible for my reservation.）

B

Oui, bien sûr. Je suis la personne en charge de votre dossier.
（Certainly. I am the person in charge of your file.）

A

D’accord. Puis-je connaître votre nom, s’il vous plaît ?
（I see. May I know your name, please?）

B

Je m’appelle Sophie Martin.
（My name is Sophie Martin.）

A

Pardon, pourriez-vous répéter votre nom ?
（Sorry, could you repeat your name?）

B

Bien sûr. Sophie Martin, M-A-R-T-I-N.
（Of course. Sophie Martin, M-A-R-T-I-N.）

A

Merci beaucoup pour votre aide.
（Thank you very much for your assistance.）

1. Asking to Speak with the Person in Charge

The first step is to explain that you would like to speak with the person responsible for your case.

The expression “Je voudrais” is a polite way of saying “I would like to…”. The verb “voudrais” is the present conditional form of “vouloir” (to want). Compared with “Je veux” (I want), it sounds much softer and more considerate.

The phrase “parler à” means “to speak with someone.” In this example, “à + le responsable” contracts to “au responsable.”

The noun “responsable” refers to a manager, supervisor, or person in charge. Depending on the context, it may refer to the person responsible for a reservation, inquiry, department, or specific case.

The phrase “de ma réservation” specifies which person in charge you would like to speak with.

2. Confirming the Person’s Name

Once you know you are speaking with the correct person, it is often useful to confirm their name for future reference.

“Puis-je” is a formal question structure meaning “May I…?” or “Would it be possible for me to…?” Although it originates from “je peux,” French uses the special form “puis-je” in inversion.

The verb “connaître” means “to know” or “to be familiar with.” 

In this context, “Puis-je connaître votre nom ?” is understood as “May I know your name?” or “Could you tell me your name?”

The phrase “s’il vous plaît” means “please.” Although the question is already polite without it, adding “s’il vous plaît” makes it even more courteous.

3. Asking Someone to Repeat Their Name

Phone connections are not always clear, so it is perfectly acceptable to ask someone to repeat their name.

The word “pardon” functions as a polite introductory expression meaning “sorry” or “excuse me.” It softens the request before asking the person to repeat themselves.

The expression “pourriez-vous” is the present conditional form of “pouvoir” (can / to be able to). It is commonly used in professional and business settings because it sounds polite and respectful.

The verb “répéter” means “to repeat.” Therefore, “répéter votre nom” literally means “to repeat your name.”

It is also useful to know that “nom” often refers to a person’s surname in French, while “prénom” refers to a first name. If you need the person’s full name, I recommend using “nom complet.”

Summary