Madame, Monsieur
The French phrase for "dear sir/madam" is Madame, Monsieur.
The phrase Madame, Monsieur is used in formal correspondence when the specific name of the recipient is unknown.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Cher Monsieur and Chère Madame are commonly replaced by Monsieur and Madame in formal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The order of the words in Madame, Monsieur is reversed compared to the English "Dear Sir/Madam", placing the feminine title first.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective Cher/Chère (dear) in greetings like Cher Monsieur, Chère Madame, but in French, the standard professional convention is to use Madame, Monsieur without the adjective.
Did you know?
- The term Madame actually contains a hidden possessive. It is a contraction of the Old French 'ma dame', which literally translates to 'my lady'.
- In formal French letters, the greeting Madame, Monsieur must be mirrored by a corresponding formal closing formula, such as Je vous prie d'agréer…
- When writing to a high-ranking government official or diplomat, Madame, Monsieur is often replaced by specific protocol titles like Monsieur le Ministre.
Examples in context
- Madame, Monsieur, je vous écris pour demander un renseignement.Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to you to ask for information.
- Madame, Monsieur, j'ai bien reçu votre courrier.Dear Sir/Madam, I have received your mail.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are reviewing a formal letter for a job application.
- HugoEst-ce que je commence par "Madame, Monsieur" ?Should I start with "Dear Sir/Madam"?
- LéaOui, car tu ne connais pas le recruteur.Yes, because you do not know the recruiter.
- HugoC'est très formel, n'est-ce pas ?It's very formal, isn't it?
- LéaC'est la formule standard pour ce courrier.It is the standard formula for this letter.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Madame, Monsieur, madame, monsieur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
