Mademoiselle Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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mademoiselle
made-moi-selle
Definition
French title
Mademoiselle is a French term used to address an unmarried woman, equivalent to 'Miss' in English. Historically, it has denoted a young lady or a woman who has not yet married. In contemporary usage, it is less common, especially in official contexts, as it has been largely replaced by 'Madame' for all women, regardless of marital status.
Synonyms
miss, single woman, young lady.
Examples of usage
- Mademoiselle, may I take your coat?
- He politely greeted the mademoiselle at the entrance.
- The mademoiselle was known for her elegance.
- She prefers to be addressed as mademoiselle in formal settings.
Translations
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Quick facts about “mademoiselle”
Mademoiselle is a 3-syllable noun (made-moi-selle). It is pronounced /ˌmædəməˈzɛɫ/ in American English and /mˈædəməzˌɛl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 3 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #26,623 among the most common English words.
Origin of 'mademoiselle'
The term 'mademoiselle' derives from the Old French term 'ma dame', meaning 'my lady'. The prefix 'ma' is a contraction of 'ma' (my) and 'dame' (lady). Used since the Middle Ages, it became a widespread title of respect for young women in the French-speaking world. However, the term began to fall out of favor in the late 20th century, particularly in France, where it was criticized for perpetuating a distinction between married and unmarried women that many considered outdated and unnecessary. In 2012, the French government officially abolished the use of 'mademoiselle' in administrative documents to promote gender equality, leading to further debate about the vocabulary used to address women in society.