We know firsthand about the politeness of the British. Such pompous addresses as sir (sir), my lord (my lord), lady (lady) and others, used since the Middle Ages, are designed to define and emphasize a person’s status during a conversation.

In modern England, classic addresses are still in use: the queen is called nothing less than Her Majesty (Her Majesty), according to the title, other members of the royal family are also addressed. Those who do not have the status of lord or other aristocratic titles are usually addressed according to their marital status.

Today, once and for all, we will deal with such seemingly similar appeals to English, like Mr, Mrs, Ms and Miss: what are these abbreviations, how are they translated and when are they used.

This knowledge will be useful to you not only in everyday communication, but also when composing business letters, as well as for filling out foreign documents.

Mr & Mrs: who is this?

First, let's look at such basic concepts that are used everywhere as Mr. and Mrs. and talk about how they are written and used.

Mr ['mɪstər] - Mr.

This address is used in cases where we are talking about a man. And it doesn’t matter at all whether you are married or not. Age is not important either: boys are addressed this way even during their studies. Used together with a surname:

Mr Lewis is a very handsome man - Mr Lewis is a very handsome man

Thus, Mr is an abbreviation of the word mister, that is, “mister” in English.

Mrs [ˈmɪsɪz] - Mrs.This is an address to a married woman in English. Can also be used to refer to a girl if she is married. The abbreviation comes from the word mistress: this is what “mistresses of the house” were called in the 18th century in Great Britain. Similar to “Mister”, used together with the surname:Mrs Lane is cooking a Christmas dinner - Mrs Lane is preparing Christmas dinner

The title Mrs (Mrs.) in English comes from the full word misses and is used both when filling out documents and in communication.

Remembering these two basic appeals is not difficult. It is enough to know that Mr is a man, and if you add s to this abbreviation, you get an address to his wife. It is also easy to remember how Mr. and Mrs. are written in English: always with a capital letter, just like the surname of the person being addressed. But whether to put a period after the abbreviation or not depends on what version of English you use. In British English there is no dot after Mr and Mrs, but in American English there is a dot. In both cases the word must be pronounced completely.

These abbreviations are perhaps the most used throughout the world. A married couple is usually presented together under one surname. For example, like in the movie “Mr. &Mrs. Smith" ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith"). Also, these are the most popular words in wedding decor, when the newlyweds’ chairs or cakes are decorated with the inscriptions Mr. and Mrs., as they will be called after the wedding.

Miss & Ms: what's the difference?

A little more complicated than with Mr and Mrs, the situation is with addressing a girl whose marital status is unknown to us.

Miss - miss This address is used when we talk about a woman or girl who, as we know, is definitely not married. Miss in English is also placed before the surname of a woman or girl, but is most often used to refer to schoolgirls and students.

Please note that this word is the only one of the four addresses that is written and pronounced in its entirety, which means it never has a dot on the letter:

Look! This is our new star Miss Lopez! - Look! This is our new star Miss Lopez!

Ms - miss

We use this form of polite address when we do not know whether a woman is married or not. Full form This word sounds like mizz, hence the slightly different pronunciation, more sonorous than Miss. Like all other addresses, it is used with the surname of a woman or girl:

Please, give these papers to Ms Strait - Please give these papers to Miss Strait

As you may have noticed, the difference between Miss and Ms is not that big. Especially in colloquial speech. If you doubt the marital status of the woman in front of you, you can always use the indefinite Ms.

By the way, in the business environment, the address Ms is more common, even if it is known that the woman is married.

Let's sum it up

Often those who study English confuse addresses to women. With men everything is clear: he will be Mr in any case, regardless of age and marital status. But what about ladies and the difference between Miss and Mrs in English?

The abbreviation Mrs is translated as Mrs. This is a woman who is married to Mr. It’s quite easy to remember, because Mr. is “hidden” in this very abbreviation.

If you see Ms, then this is Miss, which means an unmarried woman or girl. It’s also easy to remember: if there is no letter r, then this Ms has not yet found her Mr.

This is the main difference between the abbreviations Miss and Mrs in English.

Once again about periods: they are used when writing only in American English, when we have before us an abbreviation for the full word mister, mistress or mizz. The word Miss (address to an unmarried girl) also begins with a capital letter when writing, but there is no period after it. After the address (with or without a dot), the surname of the man or woman comes with a capital letter.

We hope that now you will forever remember in what cases such addresses in English as Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms are correctly used.

MRS, or MISTRESS is the same as the French “madame” when addressing a married English woman, i.e. mistress, madam. A complete dictionary of foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language. Popov M., 1907. Mrs. (English mistress) in English-speaking ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

MRS.- MRS., uncl., female. (English mistress, pronounced Mrs.). The name of an untitled married woman and the form of address to her in England and America; same as mistress Tsarist Russia. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Mrs.- madam, appeal Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Mrs. noun, number of synonyms: 3 Mrs. (27) Mrs. ... Dictionary of synonyms

MRS.- MRS., uncl., female. In English-speaking countries: a polite way of addressing a married woman (usually before her first or last name). Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Mrs.- Mrs. - [A.S. Goldberg. English-Russian energy dictionary. 2006] Topics energy sector in general Synonyms Mrs. EN MistressMrs ... Technical Translator's Guide

Mrs.- noun, f., used. often In English-speaking countries, the word Mrs. is a form of polite address for a married woman, which is used before the first or last name. Mrs Higgins. Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Dmitriev. D. V. Dmitriev. 2003 ... Dmitriev's Explanatory Dictionary

Mrs.- uncl., w. In England and America: an address to or polite reference to a married woman, usually used before the surname. Mrs Stewart. Etymology: From English missis ‘Mrs.’, ‘Mrs.’ (← mistress ‘Mistress’, ‘Mistress’) ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

Mrs.- (English), 1) in English-speaking countries, a polite address to a married woman; 2) wife, mistress. (Source: Dictionary of Sexual Terms) ... Sexological encyclopedia

Mrs.- several and.; = Mrs. Used as an address or form of polite reference to a married woman in English-speaking countries, usually attached to the surname or given name. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary Russian language Efremova

Mrs.- m issis, uncl., w... Russian spelling dictionary

Mrs.- uncl., w... Spelling dictionary Russian language

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Depending on the situation, we approach the people around us differently. An address is understood as an intonationally and grammatically isolated independent component, which is used to designate a person or (less often) an object acting as the addressee of speech. Here are some examples of addresses in English:

As you can see from the above examples, the type of address depends on many factors, in particular, on how formal or, conversely, informal the communication situation is, on whether the form of communication chosen is oral or written, as well as on your and the interlocutor’s age, gender , social status, profession and relationships of subordination.

Formal forms of addressing one person in English

To address a person in a formal situation, the English language offers several polite forms. For example, to address a man, the following options are used:

If we talk about each of the above forms, it is worth noting the following:

• the treatment can be applied to any man, whatever his age, social status and marital status; such an address is placed before the addressee's surname, for example: Mr. Johnson - Mr. Johnson;
• The address Sir should be chosen if the addressee’s last name remains unnamed or unknown; in rarer, but more honorable cases, Sir is an address to a person holding a knighthood (in the United Kingdom) and is placed either before the name, for example - Sir Richard / Sir Richard, or before full name and a surname, for example – Sir Elton John / Sir Elton John;
• The address is placed after the full name. Message from Mr. in such cases it should no longer be used, since it will be redundant. This treatment has its roots in the medieval term Esquire, which first denoted the squire of a knight, and only later belonging to the lower strata of the nobility. The form is currently used quite rarely, more often in the written version.

To address a woman in an official setting, the following forms apply:

The differences between the above forms of addressing a woman are sometimes quite significant, in particular:

• appeal Mrs. is sometimes addressed to a married woman and requires after it her last name / first name and last name / first and last name of her husband, for example: Stevenson / Mrs. Jane Stevenson/Mrs. Paul Stevenson. The last option will seem rather unusual to a Russian person, but there is a simple explanation for this, because the form Mrs. – this is an address expressing belonging to a certain man (Mrs. as a form of the possessive case from Mr.);
• the address Miss is applicable to an unmarried girl and requires a surname after it, for example - Miss Brown, less often - a name, for example Miss Alice;
• appeal Ms. occurs more often in business correspondence, while in oral speech preference is given to one of the two forms indicated above. This treatment, which applies to any woman regardless of whether she is married, is the result of numerous campaigns for women's equality. After the address Ms., recommended in 1974 by the United Nations, it is necessary to use the surname, for example - J. Simpson;
• Madam is used if the addressee's last name is not mentioned or is unknown, for example – Dear Madam / Dear Madam. In addition, the address Madam is also typical for use in relation to a high-ranking female person, and the post she occupies can be named after it, for example: Madam Managing Director / Madam General Director.

Formal address to several addressees

When speaking orally to a mixed-sex audience, the most typical and acceptable form becomes Ladies and gentlemen! – which is translated into Russian as "Ladies and gentlemen!" . In a less formal situation, you can find formulations such as Dear friends! — « Dear friends!"; Dear colleagues! - “Dear colleagues!” or Esteemed colleagues! - “Dear colleagues!” .

In an official written address to several persons (presumably mostly male), whose surnames are unknown, the wording is used Sirs / Gentlemen , For example:

If there is a written appeal to a group of women whose names and surnames are unknown, the wording is used Mesdames () / Ladies , For example:

If the message in correspondence is aimed at several addressees, and their last names are known, you can use the wording Messrs ( [ˈmes.əz]) / Gentlemen , after which these surnames are indicated, for example: MessrsJohnson, Smith and Robinson - Messrs. Johnson, Smith and Robinson. However, this formulation is now considered somewhat outdated.

Unofficial appeal

Without going too far from the topic of addressing a letter, it should be noted that when addressing a friend or good acquaintance, it is enough to call him by name or address him using the wording Dear + name (Dear...) or Hello/Hi,+ name (Hello, ...) .

In oral speech, the most acceptable address is also considered to be addressed by name. In this case, a diminutive form of the name can also be used, as in Russian, for example:

However, such forms do not exist for all names, and calling the full name is still more common.

Another question is that, unlike the Russian patronymic name, in English-speaking countries people sometimes have several names, which is associated with the Catholic tradition of “tying” the name of a patron saint or some relative to one name. However, there is no patronymic in English. But out of several names given to a person at baptism, the first one does not always become the one that the person perceives as the main thing and would like to be called that way. For example: William Bradley Pitt is better known as Brad Pitt.

But in order to avoid misunderstandings associated with calling by name, it is worth clarifying with your interlocutor: “ What should I call you ? - “What should I call you?” .

Be polite and friendly in your communication and the necessary forms of address will definitely serve you well.

According to the norms of etiquette established in English-speaking countries, addressing women of different social status should be different, both in speech and in writing. In Western society, a woman’s status is designated by special words - Miss or Mrs. In Russian culture there are no analogues to such treatment, or they are weakly expressed. What is the difference between Miss and Mrs., and who is called "Miz", later in the article.

Both words came into widespread use in Great Britain in the 17th century as an abbreviation for “mistress,” which in English means “mistress,” “owner of the house.” Initially, the husband's surname/name was added to this address. Later, in official documents, women were allowed to leave their initials after the word “Mister”. At the same time, the husband's surname was retained. Around the 17th century, the familiar Miss and Missis, or abbreviated Ms and Mrs, came into use today. The first address was used when addressing unmarried girls, and the second - to women who were or were about to get married.

Who is called "mis"?

In addition to unmarried women in English-speaking countries, the word "Miss" is used to address a schoolteacher, regardless of her marital status. The address "Miss" is used exclusively with maiden name. If a woman is divorced, she has the right to decide for herself how she will introduce herself or sign when drawing up documents. Thus, there are two options: “Mrs.” with the last name ex-husband, or “Miss” with a maiden name. If a woman becomes a widow, she should be addressed in the same way as during her marriage.

Who do they call "Miz"?

In the middle of the 20th century, Americans expanded their language with a neutral address to women “miz”, which did not emphasize their marital status. According to one version, it was invented by feminists who are always fighting for gender equality. Other sources report that the address “Miz” (in English written Ms.) was invented in the United States in 1952 by employees of the National Association of Office Managers in order not to embarrass secretaries by making address errors. Today it is officially used when communicating with secretaries and some others. office workers. In a business environment, the words "Miss" and "Mrs." are rarely used.

Generalization

So, what did you not know before reading this material?

• Miss - an appeal to a woman who is not married;
• Mrs - address to a woman who has been married or is currently married;
• Ms is a polite form of address that indicates that a person is female, but does not indicate marital status.

Examples of requests in letters:

• Dear Miss/Ms Jones! — Dear Miss Jones!
• Dear Mrs. Wilson! — Dear Mrs. Wilson!
• Dear Ms. Smith! — Dear Mrs. Smith!

In European culture, the rules of etiquette include addressing a woman in a form that corresponds to her status, age and marital status.

Definition

Madam- obligatory word usage in France and some European countries during official communication with representatives of the fairer sex. Initially, this form of polite address indicated that a woman belonged to the upper class or a noble family. Later appeal madam lost its pronounced class connotation, passed into the category of words used in etiquette formulas of speech, and began to be used in relation to women in general.

Ma'am– short form of address madam, which was actively used in England in the 18th – 19th centuries in relation to a woman who occupied a significant position in society. Currently in English the form ma'am is outdated and practically not used. In the meanings " madam», « mistress», « mentor» it has gained a foothold in countries North America and became part of the active vocabulary of modern Americans.

Miss and Mrs- forms of polite address to a woman in England and America. Appeal Mrs. in combination with the husband's surname, it is used in relation to married persons. In relation to an unmarried woman, the rules of etiquette prescribe the treatment miss.

Mademoiselle- a polite address to girls and young women before their marriage, which in France until recently was considered a sign of good manners. With distribution French And French etiquette in the Russian noble environment of the 18th – early 19th centuries, this form began to be used in Russian speech. Modern use appeals mademoiselle limited: under the influence of the feminist movement, it has been excluded from official use in France since 2012.

Comparison

It is customary to address married women in the form madam And Mrs..

Miss- form of address to unmarried women, which is used in countries that inherit the rules of English etiquette, regardless of the age of the fair sex.

Form mademoiselle as a polite address to a girl is gradually losing its meaning: since February 2012 in France it has been officially replaced by the commonly used form madam.

Appeal ma'am widespread in America: it is used by subordinates in relation to a woman who has a certain official position.

Conclusions website

1. Appeal madam to married women, is customary in France and some English-speaking European countries.
2. In American communication the word madam transformed into short form ma'am and has partially lost its meaning indicating the social status of a married woman.
3. Use of calls miss And Mrs. common in England. Form Mrs. in combination with the husband's surname used in relation to a married woman; miss It is customary to use it in combination with the surname received at birth.
4. Appeal mademoiselle may only apply to young unmarried women and young girls. It is excluded from official business communication in France, but traditionally remains in speech use.