What does mademoiselle mean?
Mademoiselle is a French-origin term for a young unmarried woman, corresponding to “Miss” in English. Its use in English often carries a literary, historical, or deliberately French cultural association rather than sounding like a contemporary form of address. In French, it can refer to an unmarried woman, a female servant or employee in some contexts, and a woman addressed formally as a young lady, although the sense and level of politeness vary by period and situation. The word entered English through French usage and appears especially in translated literature, older novels, and conversations that invoke French social settings. Although once common in English correspondence and education, it now sounds formal, old-fashioned, or regional to many speakers. It remains a useful word for readers seeking to understand older texts or to recognize a specifically French form of address.
nounA French term for a young unmarried woman, equivalent to “Miss.” It is also used as a formal form of address for a young woman, especially in French or in an old-fashioned English context.
- A young unmarried woman, especially in a French or French-influenced context.
- A formal, old-fashioned form of address corresponding to “Miss.”
"The mademoiselle offered to pour the tea."
"Mademoiselle Beaumont was waiting in the drawing room."
"The phrase mademoiselle is still encountered in older English books and translations from French."
A word preserved in English because it once served as a courteous, distinctly French form of address for a young woman.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mademoiselle come from?
The word comes from French mademoiselle, literally “my young lady,” formed from ma (“my”) and demoiselle (“young lady”). French demoiselle developed from an Old French form associated with Latin dominicella, a diminutive of domina, meaning “lady” or “mistress.” Related French words include madame and dame, while the underlying Latin root also underlies English forms such as domineer.
How mademoiselle is actually used
In modern English, mademoiselle is largely dated or literary, although it remains common in French and may be used when deliberately adopting a French setting or historical style. It is generally not used as a neutral everyday term for a young woman.
Easily confused with mademoiselle
“Mademoiselle” traditionally refers to a young unmarried woman, while “madame” is used for a married woman or as a general formal address for a woman.
“Demoiselle” is a related French word for a young unmarried woman, but “mademoiselle” is the form conventionally used in English addresses and literary contexts.