Between “appelle-moi” and “appelles-moi,” the hesitation arises with every SMS, every quick email, every scribbled note. The verb appeler, with its doubling of the “l” depending on the conjugated forms, traps both middle school students and busy adults. To decide, one must return to a single question: which conjugation mode governs the sentence?
Present indicative and present imperative of the verb appeler: compared forms
The confusion between “appelle-moi” and “appelles-moi” arises from an almost perfect resemblance between two moods. The table below isolates the problematic forms.
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| Mood | Person | Form | Ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present indicative | Tu | tu appelles | -es |
| Present imperative | 2nd person singular | appelle | -e (without “s”) |
| Present indicative | Nous | nous appelons | -ons (only one “l”) |
| Present imperative | 1st person plural | appelons | -ons (only one “l”) |
The decisive line is the second one. In the indicative, “tu appelles” takes a final “s.” In the imperative, the 2nd person singular of -er verbs loses the “s”. Therefore, we write “appelle,” without “s,” and when we add the pronoun “moi,” it becomes “appelle-moi.”
This mechanism applies to all first-group verbs: “parle-moi,” “regarde-moi,” “écoute-moi.” Remembering the correct conjugation of appelle-moi comes down to mastering this unique rule.
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Why the “s” disappears in the imperative of -er verbs
The imperative is a mood reduced to three persons: 2nd person singular, 1st and 2nd persons plural. It is conjugated without an expressed subject. For first-group verbs, the imperative form borrows from the present indicative but removes the final “s” in the 2nd person singular.
This removal only concerns -er verbs (and the verb “aller” for “va”). Second-group verbs (finir, choisir) retain their “s”: “finis ton assiette.” Third-group verbs vary according to their conjugation.
The mechanism is therefore targeted. When the verb belongs to the first group, the imperative ending is -e, not -es. “Appelle-moi” directly follows from this.
The trap of the euphonious “s” before “en” and “y”
Several recent pedagogical grammars emphasize a point that complicates matters. Before the pronouns “en” and “y,” the “s” reappears for reasons of phonetic liaison. We write “parles-en” or “vas-y,” even though “parle-moi” and “va là-bas” do not take it.
- Before “moi,” “toi,” “nous,” “vous”: no “s” for -er verbs. Examples: “appelle-moi,” “parle-nous,” “regarde-toi.”
- Before “en”: the “s” returns for liaison. Examples: “parles-en à ton collègue,” “manges-en un peu.”
- Before “y”: same euphonious logic. Example: “penses-y avant de répondre.”
This distinction between tonic personal pronouns (moi, toi) and adverbial pronouns (en, y) is the source of many errors. Remembering that “en” and “y” trigger the “s” is enough to clear up the ambiguity in most cases.
The doubling of the “l” in the conjugation of the verb appeler
The other source of confusion concerns the number of “l”s. The infinitive is written “appeler” with a single “l.” The pronunciation shifts as soon as the final syllable is silent.
When we hear the open “è” sound (as in “appelle,” “j’appelle,” “ils appellent”), the “l” doubles. When the ending is voiced (“nous appelons,” “vous appelez,” “appeler”), one “l” suffices because the “e” is pronounced.
This alternation follows the same logic as “jeter / je jette” or “renouveler / je renouvelle.” The doubling of the consonant replaces the grave accent found in other similar verbs (“acheter / j’achète”). Both systems coexist in French, which fuels the confusion.
The noun “appel” versus the verb “appelle”
One last common trap: the masculine noun “un appel” takes only one “l.” The verbal form “il appelle” takes two. Confusing the two amounts to mixing a noun and a conjugation, which frequently occurs in quick writing.
A simple test: if the word can be replaced by another noun (“un message,” “un signal”), it is the noun “appel” with one “l.” If it can be replaced by another conjugated verb (“il téléphone,” “il contacte”), it is the verbal form “appelle” with two “l”s.
Spelling errors related to the imperative: the effect of the keyboard
Observations made in a school context indicate that the confusion “appelle-moi / appelles-moi” appears more in writing than in speech, and it seems correlated with the early use of keyboards in class. Automatic correctors on phones often suggest “appelles” (indicative) when the user types the first letters, reinforcing the incorrect form.
In SMS and messaging, the hyphen tends to disappear for convenience. “Appelle moi” without a hyphen remains incorrect in standard French, even though this spelling is becoming widespread in informal exchanges. In administrative, educational, or professional contexts, the hyphen remains mandatory.
- Correct form in all contexts: “appelle-moi” (imperative, hyphen, no “s”).
- Incorrect form: “appelles-moi” (the “s” has no place in the imperative of an -er verb before “moi”).
- Form tolerated only in very informal exchanges: “appelle moi” (absence of hyphen, but correct verb spelling).
The rule can be summarized in one sentence: in the imperative, -er verbs lose the “s” in the 2nd person singular, except before “en” and “y.” “Appelle-moi” is always written without “s” and with a hyphen. Keeping this reflex eliminates one of the most frequent conjugation errors in everyday French.