mme

Definition & meaning

Mme is the standard abbreviation for Madame in French. It is used as a title of respect for a woman, regardless of her marital status (though historically associated with married women, it is now the universal formal address for adult women in French, replacing the distinction between Mademoiselle and Madame).

1. Formal title: It is used before a surname (e.g., Mme Dupont) or a professional title (e.g., Mme la directrice) to address or refer to a woman politely.
2. Generic noun: It can also refer to a woman of social standing or simply a polite way to address a stranger.

Grammar & Word origin

Mme is a noun abbreviation. It is capitalized because it is a title. In formal writing, one does not put a period after "Mme" because the last letter of the abbreviation ("e") is the same as the last letter of the full word (Madame).

The word Madame is a contraction of the Middle French ma dame, which translates literally to "my lady." It is the feminine equivalent of Monsieur ↗.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Dame ↗: A woman of a certain social standing or maturity.
• Mademoiselle ↗: Historically used for an unmarried woman; currently, Mme is preferred for all adult women in administrative contexts.

Antonyms:

• Monsieur ↗: The French equivalent for "Mr." or "Sir," used for men.