madame
/ma.dam/
The English phrase "ma'am" is translated into French as madame.
madame is a polite form of address used for women in professional settings, in service industries or when addressing a stranger.
Meaning: chiefly used as a form of address: contraction of madam (noun)
Which one should you use?
While madame is used for adult or married women, mademoiselle is the traditional term for a young girl or an unmarried woman.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ma.dam/.
When do people say it?
Saying Bonjour, Madame is a common way to say hello to a woman you do not know or to someone you wish to show respect to. In some formal contexts, a woman may be addressed by her last name preceded by Madame.
Did you know?
- The French government officially banned the use of mademoiselle on administrative forms in 2012 to promote gender equality. Now, madame is the standard legal term for all adult women regardless of marital status.
- The word madame literally translates to 'my lady' because it is a combination of the words 'ma' meaning 'my' and 'dame' meaning 'lady'.
- In many French-speaking regions, particularly in parts of Africa, the use of titles like Madame is even more strictly observed in daily social hierarchies than in mainland France.
Examples in context
- Est-ce que c'est correct, madame ?Is that correct, ma'am?This sentence is useful for confirming correctness using madame.Tatoeba #6155374 by Dr_herr, translation #6153327 by RobinvanderVliet
- Bonjour, madame, comment puis-je vous aider ?Hello, ma'am, how can I help you?This sentence shows how to offer help to someone using madame.
- Puis-je vous aider, madame ?May I help you ma'am?This sentence demonstrates how to offer assistance to a woman using madame.Tatoeba #877074 by Scott, translation #24761 by CK
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is asking a teacher for help in the hallway.
- NathanExcusez-moi, madame, avez-vous un instant ?Excuse me, ma'am, do you have a moment?
- LéaOui Nathan, je t'écoute.Yes Nathan, I'm listening.
- NathanMerci, madame, j'ai une question sur le cours.Thank you, ma'am, I have a question about the lesson.
- LéaD'accord, viens dans mon bureau.Alright, come into my office.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry madame, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries madame, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
