Appeler

Appeler is a common French verb meaning to call, to name, or to phone. It is used transitively to refer to calling someone by name, to make a telephone call, or to summon; it can also denote naming a person or thing, or invoking something. The reflexive form s’appeler means “to be named” or “to be called,” as in Je m’appelle Marie (My name is Marie).

In the present tense, appeler shows a consonant doubling pattern: j’appelle, tu appelles, il appelle, nous appelons, vous appelez, ils appellent. The reflexive present is je m’appelle, tu t’appelles, il s’appelle, nous nous appelons, vous vous appelez, ils s’appellent. The imperative of non-reflexive appeler is appelle, appelons, appelez; for s’appeler the forms are appelle-toi, appelons-nous, appelez-vous in the appropriate person.

Appeler forms through other tenses include: passé composé j’ai appelé; imperfect j’appelais; future j’appellerai; conditional j’appellerais. The past participle is appelé and the present participle is appelant. In the subjunctive present one finds que j’appelle, que tu appelles, qu’il appelle, que nous appelions, que vous appeliez, qu’ils appellent.

Common uses include J’ai appelé Marie ce matin (I called Marie this morning), Il s’appelle Jean (He is named Jean), and L’appel téléphonique (the telephone call). The noun l’appel also covers appeals in legal or rhetorical contexts. Etymology traces to Old French and Latin appellare, from ad- plus pellere, meaning to call toward or to name.