Appeler Conjugation French: The Complete Guide & Conjugation Charts

The verb appeler (meaning "to call" or "to name") is an indispensable element of French vocabulary. Whether you want to order a taxi, place a phone call, or simply introduce yourself using its reflexive counterpart s'appeler (Je m'appelle...), this verb comes up constantly.

While appeler follows the regular patterns of first-group verbs ending in -er, it features a key stem change: switching between a single l and a double ll. In this guide, we break down the grammatical mechanics, phonetic reasons, and full conjugation tables so you can master it with confidence.

The Stem-Changing Rule: When to Use 'L' vs 'LL'

Many French learners find verbs like appeler confusing because of spelling variations. However, the rule is entirely rooted in pronunciation:

1. Double the 'l' (`ll`) whenever the ending contains a silent 'e'. Doubling the consonant transforms the preceding "e" from an unstressed sound /ə/ into an open /ɛ/ (like "pet").

  • Examples: J'appelle, tu appelleras, ils appellent.

2. Keep a single 'l' (`l`) when the ending starts with a clearly pronounced vowel sound (such as /ɔ̃/, /e/, or /i/).

  • Examples: Nous appelons, vous appelez, j'appelais.

Pro tip: Although the 1990 spelling reform accepts j'appèle, traditional spelling with the double ll remains the standard taught across DELF/DALF certifications and academic institutions worldwide.

Indicative Mood: Main Tenses

Present Tense (Présent)

Notice the classic "boot verb" pattern: the singular forms and the third-person plural take ll, while nous and vous keep a single l.

Compound Past (Passé Composé)

Subject Pronoun French Form English Meaning
:--- :--- :---
J' appelle I call / am calling
Tu appelles You call (informal)
Il / Elle / On appelle He / She / One calls
Nous appelons We call
Vous appelez You call (formal/plural)
Ils / Elles appellent They call

In the passé composé, appeler uses the auxiliary verb avoir and the past participle appelé (always with a single l).

  • J'ai appelé (I called / I have called)
  • Tu as appelé
  • Il / Elle / On a appelé
  • Nous avons appelé
  • Vous avez appelé
  • Ils / Elles ont appelé

    • Imperfect (Imparfait)

Because the imperfect endings start with pronounced vowels (-ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient), the stem retains a single l throughout.

  • J'appelais (I was calling / used to call)
  • Tu appelais
  • Il / Elle appelait
  • Nous appelions
  • Vous appeliez
  • Ils / Elles appelaient

    • Simple Future (Futur Simple)

Because the future endings follow a silent 'e' in the stem, every form doubles the 'l'.

  • J'appellerai (I will call)
  • Tu appelleras
  • Il / Elle appellera
  • Nous appellerons
  • Vous appellerez
  • Ils / Elles appelleront

    • Conditional & Subjunctive Moods

    Conditional Present

Just like the future simple, the conditional maintains the double ll across all subjects.

  • J'appellerais (I would call)
  • Tu appellerais
  • Il / Elle appellerait
  • Nous appellerions
  • Vous appelleriez
  • Ils / Elles appelleraient

    • Subjunctive Present

The subjunctive follows the same distribution as the indicative present:

  • Que j'appelle
  • Que tu appelles
  • Qu'il / elle appelle
  • Que nous appelions
  • Que vous appeliez
  • Qu'ils / elles appellent

    • The Reflexive Form: S'appeler

When introducing yourself, you use the pronominal form s'appeler ("to be called"). It uses the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses.

  • Present: Je m'appelle Marc. (My name is Marc.)
  • Present (We): Comment vous vous appelez ? (What is your name?)
  • Passé Composé: Elle s'est appelée ainsi pendant des années. (She was called that for years.)

    • Useful French Idioms with Appeler

1. Appeler un chat un chat – To call a spade a spade (to speak plainly).

2. Faire appel à quelqu'un – To seek someone's help or professional service.

3. En appeler à – To appeal to a higher authority, emotion, or reason.

By practicing the alternation between l and ll with the sound of the silent 'e', conjugating appeler will quickly become second nature in both writing and speaking.