Madame or Mademoiselle?
Nov 19, 2015, 7:16 am
#1
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Madame or Mademoiselle?
Dear Francophone Friends,
I am meeting up with a friend of mine in Paris in January. She is unmarried and we are both 'of a certain age'. How would I refer to her, for instance, when ordering a meal on her behalf with a waiter? Mme or Mlle? Seems that calling her just Elle in her presence is abrupt/rude, or is that proper?
Thank you
T2
I am meeting up with a friend of mine in Paris in January. She is unmarried and we are both 'of a certain age'. How would I refer to her, for instance, when ordering a meal on her behalf with a waiter? Mme or Mlle? Seems that calling her just Elle in her presence is abrupt/rude, or is that proper?
Thank you
T2
Nov 19, 2015, 7:25 am
#2
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Dear Francophone Friends,
I am meeting up with a friend of mine in Paris in January. She is unmarried and we are both 'of a certain age'. How would I refer to her, for instance, when ordering a meal on her behalf with a waiter? Mme or Mlle? Seems that calling her just Elle in her presence is abrupt/rude, or is that proper?
Thank you
T2
I am meeting up with a friend of mine in Paris in January. She is unmarried and we are both 'of a certain age'. How would I refer to her, for instance, when ordering a meal on her behalf with a waiter? Mme or Mlle? Seems that calling her just Elle in her presence is abrupt/rude, or is that proper?
Thank you
T2
You're correct that you should refer to her as Madame, not elle, when ordering for her. Other people at your table are Monsieur/ce Monsieur, Madame/cette Madame, ce jeune homme, Mademoiselle, cette jeune fille.
Nov 19, 2015, 7:55 am
#3
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Nov 20, 2015, 8:39 am
#5
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I only use mademoiselle for teenage girls.
I read an article a couple years ago about how single women are pushing for a change in a law or policy because they must be referred to as mademoiselle by banks and government institutions no matter what their age.
I read an article a couple years ago about how single women are pushing for a change in a law or policy because they must be referred to as mademoiselle by banks and government institutions no matter what their age.
Nov 20, 2015, 9:18 am
#6
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Dear Francophone Friends,
I am meeting up with a friend of mine in Paris in January. She is unmarried and we are both 'of a certain age'. How would I refer to her, for instance, when ordering a meal on her behalf with a waiter? Mme or Mlle? Seems that calling her just Elle in her presence is abrupt/rude, or is that proper?
T2
I am meeting up with a friend of mine in Paris in January. She is unmarried and we are both 'of a certain age'. How would I refer to her, for instance, when ordering a meal on her behalf with a waiter? Mme or Mlle? Seems that calling her just Elle in her presence is abrupt/rude, or is that proper?
T2
Nov 20, 2015, 9:23 am
#7
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Nov 20, 2015, 10:17 am
#8
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My partner gave me heck some 3 1/2 years ago because I addressed the (very) young waitress as madame. Talked to some friends in the Basque country a year or so later and they say it's now accepted/polite to address adults as monsieur or madame respectively, and as mentioned above, some want to codify it.
Nov 21, 2015, 2:59 am
#10
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Nov 21, 2015, 3:14 am
#11
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Tell you why, he is ordering (or going to) that indicates that they are mature people, and that doesn't work for such an age group, respectfully wise.
Younger people (50s and under) the man would never dream for ordering for the lady.
Younger people (50s and under) the man would never dream for ordering for the lady.
Nov 21, 2015, 9:17 am
#12
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I did not assume from the OP that he was a male and she was a female since the OP said they were both "of a certain age", which phrase generally implies women. But now that I think of it, why is the OP doing the ordering unless the other person does not speak French? Even if it is a male and he is over 50. And who decided that 50 was the dividing line. Lots of generalizations going on here.
Nov 21, 2015, 10:24 am
#13
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Hello, I'm back.
We are both women in our 60's, and my friend speaks no French. I frequently order for my husband or other travel companions, once I translate the carte to them and get their choices.
Your input is appreciated. I will ask my friend which salutation she prefers.
We are both women in our 60's, and my friend speaks no French. I frequently order for my husband or other travel companions, once I translate the carte to them and get their choices.
Your input is appreciated. I will ask my friend which salutation she prefers.
Nov 21, 2015, 11:18 am
#14
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Hello, I'm back.
We are both women in our 60's, and my friend speaks no French. I frequently order for my husband or other travel companions, once I translate the carte to them and get their choices.
Your input is appreciated. I will ask my friend which salutation she prefers.
We are both women in our 60's, and my friend speaks no French. I frequently order for my husband or other travel companions, once I translate the carte to them and get their choices.
Your input is appreciated. I will ask my friend which salutation she prefers.
Nov 21, 2015, 1:21 pm
#15
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