bonsoir madame
bonsoir madame is the French way to say "good evening madam".
This greeting is used when arriving or meeting someone during the evening hours. You can extend the phrase by saying Bonsoir, Madame, comment allez-vous? to ask how she is doing or you can address a specific person by adding her last name, such as Bonsoir, Madame + Last Name when speaking to a client or customer.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bon (good), soir (evening) and madame (madam/ma'am).
Which one should you use?
While bonsoir can be used alone, adding madame increases the level of politeness and formality.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using madame after the greeting is a formal and respectful way to address a woman.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use bonne soirée as a greeting. However, bonne soirée is actually a way to say "have a good evening" when leaving.
Did you know?
- If you were to use the word madame as a standalone noun to refer to a woman, it could change meaning entirely. In certain contexts, especially in historical or slang settings, it can refer to a madam who runs a brothel.
- The word madame was originally a title of high status, literally meaning 'my lady' in Old French. It has evolved from a term for nobility into a respectful way to address any adult woman.
- The timing of bonsoir is often tied to the sun setting or the end of the workday rather than a specific clock hour.
Examples in context
- Bonsoir Madame !Good evening, madam!This example shows how to use the phrase bonsoir madame.Tatoeba #1143749 by sacredceltic, translation #6581151 by Eccles17
- Bonsoir madame, comment allez-vous ?Good evening madam, how are you?
- Bonsoir madame, je vous souhaite une bonne soirée.Good evening madam, I wish you a pleasant evening.
Example conversation
Gabriel is entering a boutique where Emma is the owner.
- GabrielBonsoir madame.Good evening madam.
- EmmaBonsoir Monsieur, que puis-je faire pour vous ?Good evening sir, what can I do for you?
- GabrielJe cherche un cadeau pour ma sœur.I am looking for a gift for my sister.
- EmmaTrès bien, suivez-moi, s'il vous plaît.Very well, follow me, please.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonsoir, madame, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
