Rappeler [à quelqu'un] = to remind [someone] in French

In French, there are two different structures to express "reminding", depending on whether we mean to be reminded of [something] or to prompt someone to remember [to do something].

How to express "to remind" in French

Rappeler [quelqu'un/quelque chose] à [quelqu'un] = To remind [someone] of [someone/something]

In English, the sentence goes as follows:

He reminds Maria of her ex.
First comes the person who is reminded, then the person she's reminded of.

BUT 
in French, this order is reversed:

Il rappelle son ex  à Maria.

First comes the person she is reminded of + à + person who is reminded.:

rappeler + person one's reminded of + à + person being reminded

Here are more examples:
Il rappelle son ex à Maria.He reminds Maria of her ex.

Elle rappelle sa sœur à Alain.She reminds Alain of his sister.

Ça rappelle son enfance à mon frère.It reminds my brother of his childhood.

Cette recette rappelle sa grand-mère à Anna.This recipe reminds Anna of her grandmother.

ATTENTION: 

Note that in French, there is no equivalent of the preposition "of" present in English:
She reminds me of Paula. -> Elle me rappelle de Paula.

Noël rappelle toujours de bons souvenirs à ma mère.Christmas always reminds my mother of good memories.
-> Here de is not a preposition, but the plural article des contracted in de because of the following adjective (See "Des" becomes " de/d' " in front of adjectives preceding nouns (French Partitive Articles))

With object pronouns (He reminds me, you, him...):

You will use indirect object pronouns before rappeler :

me/te/lui/nous/vous/leur rappeler + person one is reminded of 

Cette fille me rappelle une actrice célèbre.This girl reminds me of a famous actress.

Je vous rappelle votre nounou.I remind you of your nanny.

Tu lui rappelles son meilleur ami.You remind her of her best friend.
You remind him of his best friend.

 

Rappeler à [quelqu'un] de [faire quelque chose] = To remind [someone] to [do something]

In this case, the order is similar to English : 

rappeler + à + person being reminded + de + [infinitif]

J'ai rappelé à Paul de faire la vaisselle.I reminded Paul to do the washing up.

Elle rappellera à son fils de préparer sa valise.She'll remind her son to pack his suitcase.

With object pronouns (He reminds me, you, him...):

 

You will also use indirect object pronouns before rappeler :

me/te/lui/nous/vous/leur rappeler + de + [infinitif] 

Vous me rappelez de sortir la poubelle.You remind me to take out the bin.

Il m'a rappelé de faire mes devoirsHe reminded me to do my homework

 

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Cette recette rappelle sa grand-mère à Anna.This recipe reminds Anna of her grandmother.
Elle rappelle sa sœur à Alain.She reminds Alain of his sister.
Elle rappellera à son fils de préparer sa valise.She'll remind her son to pack his suitcase.
Il rappelle son ex à Maria.He reminds Maria of her ex.
Noël rappelle toujours de bons souvenirs à ma mère.Christmas always reminds my mother of good memories.
Ça rappelle son enfance à mon frère.It reminds my brother of his childhood.

to remind


Je vous rappelle votre nounou.I remind you of your nanny.
Cette fille me rappelle une actrice célèbre.This girl reminds me of a famous actress.
Tu lui rappelles son meilleur ami.You remind her of her best friend.
You remind him of his best friend.

to remind (someone) to (do)


Vous me rappelez de sortir la poubelle.You remind me to take out the bin.
J'ai rappelé à Paul de faire la vaisselle.I reminded Paul to do the washing up.
Il m'a rappelé de faire mes devoirsHe reminded me to do my homework
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