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Titres
While not as diverse as they used to be, a few honorifics are commonly used in French and are as important as any other polite vocabulary. Here are the French titles you need, along with their abbreviations – click for sound files.
General titles
Title | Abbrev. | Plural | English | |
Monsieur | M. | Messieurs | Mister, Mr., sir | |
Madame | Mme | Mesdames | Madam, Mrs., ma’am | |
Mademoiselle | Mlle | Mesdemoiselles | Miss |
General titles are used when talking to and about a person and may or may not be followed by the person’s last name. However, titles are only capitalized when followed by a name – learn more.
Par exemple…
Bonjour Madame Terbois. | Hello Mrs. Terbois. | |
J’ai parlé à Monsieur Gueldry hier. | I spoke to Mr. Gueldry yesterday. | |
Au revoir, monsieur. | Good-bye, sir. |
When do you need definite articles with titles?
Related apheresis: messieurs dames – used to address a group of people when entering a room, e.g., Bonjour messieurs dames – "Hello everyone, Hello ladies and gentleman."
Professional titles
Docteur | Dr | Doctor | |
Maître | Me | ~Mr./Ms (for lawyers, professors, etc) | |
Professeur | Pr | Professor |
Religious titles
Frère | F. | Brother | |
Mère | M. | Mother | |
Père | P. | Father | |
Révérend Père | R.P. | Reverend | |
Saint | St | Saint (male) | |
Sainte | Ste | Saint (female) | |
Sœur | Sr | Sister |
Rare, old-fashioned or obsolete titles
Title | Abbrev. | English | |
Monseigneur | Mgr | Your Eminence, Your Grace | |
Veuve | Vve | widow | |
Votre Majesté | V.M. | Your Majesty | |
Sa Majesté | S.M. | His / Her Majesty |
Related lessons
En español
In italiano
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