Madame or Mademoiselle?
Nov 22, 2015, 4:32 am
#16
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Nov 22, 2015, 2:08 pm
#18
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Nov 22, 2015, 2:13 pm
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Nov 23, 2015, 3:17 am
#20
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Since not a long time ago, "Mademoiselle" doesn't appear anymore on official / administrative papers as it was considered as discriminatory as a woman was obliged to unveil if she was married or not.
However, it is still used by most people for ladies under 25/30. Madame is far more formal, I believe.
However, it is still used by most people for ladies under 25/30. Madame is far more formal, I believe.
Nov 23, 2015, 3:53 pm
#21
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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 24, 2015, 2:49 pm
#22
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Since not a long time ago, "Mademoiselle" doesn't appear anymore on official / administrative papers as it was considered as discriminatory as a woman was obliged to unveil if she was married or not.
However, it is still used by most people for ladies under 25/30. Madame is far more formal, I believe.
However, it is still used by most people for ladies under 25/30. Madame is far more formal, I believe.
Dec 14, 2015, 6:26 pm
#23
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Tough subject, overall I would say you are safer in using "Madame" in any situation. I would even say you could use it for a young girl, all depends on the tone/way you say it.
To me it sounds a bit strange when someone say 40+ uses copine, I would rather use "compagne" for instance, but it pretty much depends in which context you are (work vs friends or family). Depends also on the stability/length of the relationship
To me it sounds a bit strange when someone say 40+ uses copine, I would rather use "compagne" for instance, but it pretty much depends in which context you are (work vs friends or family). Depends also on the stability/length of the relationship
Dec 18, 2015, 1:16 am
#24
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Tough subject, overall I would say you are safer in using "Madame" in any situation. I would even say you could use it for a young girl, all depends on the tone/way you say it.
To me it sounds a bit strange when someone say 40+ uses copine, I would rather use "compagne" for instance, but it pretty much depends in which context you are (work vs friends or family). Depends also on the stability/length of the relationship
To me it sounds a bit strange when someone say 40+ uses copine, I would rather use "compagne" for instance, but it pretty much depends in which context you are (work vs friends or family). Depends also on the stability/length of the relationship
For people between 20-30, "copine" / "copain" are for young people, as you typically talk about your "copine" / "copain" in high school and "mon amie" / "mon ami" is a slightly better option. "Compagne" / "compagnon" is a little bit dated (and, you're right Nick, it is OK for people aged 30-40)
There are so many variations in French ... Glad to talk about this topic on FT as it couldn't be a better place to see how my language is complex for foreigners !
Dec 19, 2015, 4:00 am
#25
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Dec 19, 2015, 4:10 am
#26
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Indeed. One of the most frequent questions I had from English-speaking persons is how do you know if you need to say "tu" or "vous" to somebody. While the basics are easy to explain, then it becomes very complicated to explain how you move from "vous" to "tu" with a specific person.
Dec 19, 2015, 7:46 am
#27
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That's sort of like asking how you know when to try a First Kiss.
But the mechanics are actually fairly simple: You tutoyer the person, and wait for a response. If you get a tutoyer in return, you're all set; if you get a vouvoyer, you've said a small bêtise.
It's just one of those complicated things, though, like trying to figure out whether a woman is d'un certain âge or d'un âge certain.
But the mechanics are actually fairly simple: You tutoyer the person, and wait for a response. If you get a tutoyer in return, you're all set; if you get a vouvoyer, you've said a small bêtise.
It's just one of those complicated things, though, like trying to figure out whether a woman is d'un certain âge or d'un âge certain.
Dec 20, 2015, 10:23 am
#28
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Madame or Mademoiselle?
Normally you say should we just "tutoyer" but you need to reach a certain easiness with the person before you ask that. A person you see once in a while, you don't. A person you are becoming friendlier with you do.
Young people 20is just skip the vous and start with a tu.
Young people 20is just skip the vous and start with a tu.
Dec 21, 2015, 12:43 am
#29
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As a young in my 20s, I always use "vous" in a business context, with customers and with colleagues I don't know well until being asked to "tutoyer" the person. Some ask immediately to use "tu" because the age gap is not that important, some wait a few weeks / few months before they ask to use "tu".
However, I will never use "tu" at a first meeting with people I don't know, even after being introduced to them by someone I know. I prefer to be more formal and to be mocked for that rather than seeming rude to someone, using "tu" immediately.
In a more informal context, when being friends and getting introduced to their friends or relatives, you usually skip the "vous" and directly use "tu", as Yahillwe said.
However, I will never use "tu" at a first meeting with people I don't know, even after being introduced to them by someone I know. I prefer to be more formal and to be mocked for that rather than seeming rude to someone, using "tu" immediately.
In a more informal context, when being friends and getting introduced to their friends or relatives, you usually skip the "vous" and directly use "tu", as Yahillwe said.
Dec 21, 2015, 6:05 am
#30
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At an American company where I worked (Digital Equipment Corp) that had large offices in Evry and Valbonne, the French offices had the explicit policy that co-workers would always tutoyer one another. Is it common practice for such a policy to be explicit?