Madame or Mademoiselle?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: GRR
Programs: DL MM & FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 583
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
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
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.
#3
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,404
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
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.
#6
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AVL
Programs: DL 2MM, Plat; Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 214
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
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,729
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,808
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.
#10
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,729
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.
#12
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AVL
Programs: DL 2MM, Plat; Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 214
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.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: GRR
Programs: DL MM & FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 583
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.
#14
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
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.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,729