What does frau mean?
Frau is the German word and courtesy title for a woman, corresponding to the English 'Mrs.' or 'Madam'. English speakers most often encounter it when referring to German-speaking individuals, where retaining the original title conveys cultural accuracy: a neighbour might be called Frau Weber rather than Mrs. Weber. Historically, German distinguished Frau (a married woman) from Fräulein (an unmarried one), mirroring the English 'Mrs.' versus 'Miss'; however, since the late twentieth century German-speaking countries have abandoned this distinction, and Frau is now the standard form of address for every adult woman. The word derives from Old High German frā, meaning 'lady' or 'mistress of the household', a term rooted in the ancient Germanic adjective that also gave English the word 'free'. For readers of German literature, travellers, and anyone corresponding with German speakers, Frau remains an essential and respectful term of address.
nounA title of address, or respectful term of reference, for a married German woman; equivalent to 'Mrs.' in German-speaking countries.
- The German courtesy title equivalent to 'Mrs.', used for a married woman or, in modern usage, any adult woman.
- A married German woman referred to by that title.
"She greeted her landlady as Frau Müller before heading up the stairs."
"Herr and Frau Schmidt hosted us for dinner in Munich."
"The novel's heroine, a young English governess, addresses her employer respectfully as Frau Direktor."
In German, the plural is written Frauen with a capital F; anglicised references sometimes write 'frauen', though formal English texts usually avoid pluralising the title.
"Several Frauen from the town council attended the ceremony."
In today's Germany, 'Frau' has fully replaced 'Fräulein' — every adult woman is simply called Frau, no ring required.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of frau
Frau descends from Old High German frā, meaning 'lady', 'mistress', or 'wife', which itself comes from a Proto-Germanic adjective *frijō- meaning 'free' or 'beloved' — the same root that produced the English words 'free' and 'friend'. An early English borrowing of the same Germanic notion survives as the obsolete word 'frow', once used for the lady of a house. The related German diminutive 'Fräulein' served for centuries as the title of unmarried women until falling out of official use in the twentieth century.
Related word forms
How frau is actually used
In English writing, 'Frau' appears mainly when referring to German-speaking people, preserving the native title rather than translating it to 'Mrs.'. Since the 1970s, German usage applies it to all adult women regardless of marital status, making the old married/unmarried distinction with 'Fräulein' obsolete.
Easily confused with frau
'Frau' is the German title for a married woman, while 'Fräulein' traditionally denoted an unmarried woman, though modern German uses 'Frau' for all adult women.
'Frow' was an obsolete English term for a lady or mistress of a house, sharing the same Germanic root but long extinct in everyday use.