Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Frau | /fʁaʊ̯/ | feminine |
| Fräulein | /ˈfʁɔɪ̯laɪ̯n/ (standard) /ˈfʁɔlaɪ̯n/ |
neuter |
The term Frau is used to mean 'Madam' or 'Mrs.' in English. In modern German, it is the standard polite way to address any woman, regardless of her marital status, functioning much like 'Ms.' does in English.
Which one should you use?
While Frau is the standard form, the neuter form Fräulein exists. In highly formal or old-fashioned contexts, you may encounter the phrase gnädige Frau, which translates to 'gracious lady' or 'madam' and is used to show extreme politeness or deference.
How does it change in a sentence?
In modern German, Frau is the standard title for any woman. When using it as a title, it is almost always paired with a surname, such as Frau Schmidt.
How do you pronounce it?
/fʁaʊ̯/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use Frau as a standalone title in casual settings. However, in modern German, it should almost always be used with a surname unless you are using specific formal constructions like gnädige Frau.
When do people say it?
The phrase gnädige Frau is a highly formal, old-fashioned way to address a woman to show extreme politeness.
Did you know?
- The word Frau actually shares a linguistic ancestor with the word 'lord' or 'king'.
- While Frau is the standard for 'Madam', the lowercase frau was once a feminist alternative to the word 'man' to avoid using the masculine-sounding 'one'.
- Historically, the word Frau was a title for a 'mistress' or a woman of high social standing.
Examples in context
- Bitte treten Sie ein, gnädige Frau!Please come in, madam.This sentence shows how to use Frau in a polite request to enter.Tatoeba #11214189 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11811945 by sundown
- Darf ich Ihnen helfen, gnädige Frau?May I help you, madam?This sentence demonstrates using Frau when offering assistance.Tatoeba #877080 by Espi, translation #10799945 by sundown
- Bitte setzen Sie sich, gnädige Frau!Please sit down, madam.This sentence shows how to use Frau when politely asking someone to sit down.Tatoeba #13586024 by Waldelfe, translation #9004487 by carlosalberto
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas is returning a lost item to Sarah at a shop.
- LukasEntschuldigung, Frau Müller, Sie haben Ihren Schal vergessen.Excuse me, Ms. Müller, you forgot your scarf.
- SarahOh, vielen Dank, das ist sehr nett von Ihnen.Oh, thank you very much, that is very kind of you.
- LukasGern geschehen, Frau Müller.You're welcome, Ms. Müller.
- SarahEinen schönen Tag noch!Have a nice day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “madam” translations and entries Frau, Fräulein, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Frau, Fräulein, frau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
