Madam Who

Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French ''madame'', from "ma dame" meaning "my lady"''.'' In French, the abbreviation is "M" or "Mme" and the plural is ''mesdames'' (abbreviated "M" or "Mmes"). These terms ultimately derive from the Latin '' domina'', meaning "mistress."

Use as a form of address

Formal protocol

After addressing her as "Your Majesty" once, it was correct to address the Queen of the United Kingdom as "Ma'am" to rhyme with the British short pronunciation of "jam" for the remainder of a conversation. A letter to the Queen may begin with ''Madam'' or ''May it please Your Majesty''. Other female members of the British royal family are usually addressed in conversation first as ''Your Royal Highness'' and subsequently as ''Ma'am''.

''Madam President'' or ''Madame President'' is a formal form of address for female presidents and vice presidents of republics.Styles of address
Canadian Heritage (last accessed February 19, 2021).
Protocol for the Modern Diplomat
', U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Institute, pp. 2-5 (last reviewed July 2013). ''Madam Secretary'' is a formal form of address for a female member of the United States Cabinet; a female Attorney General of the United States is formally addressed ''Madam Attorney General''. ''Madam Speaker'' is a correct form of address for a female speaker of the United States House of Representatives (e.g. Nancy Pelosi), British House of Commons (e.g. Betty Boothroyd), or Canadian House of Commons, as well as a female speaker of the Canadian Senate.

In the United States, between the early 19th century and 1980, justices of the Supreme Court were formally called ''Mr. Justice (surname)''. In 1980, the title was dropped in "to avoid the awkward appellation 'Madam Justice'" in anticipation of a woman joining the court. Plaques on chamber doorways reading "Mr. Justice" were removed after Sandra Day O'Connor joined the court in 1981. Female members of state supreme courts were previously sometimes styled as ''Madam Justice'', matching the ''Mr. Justice'' formally used. Justice Rosemary Barkett of the Florida Supreme Court disliked the title, since she was unmarried, and announced that she would simply be called ''Justice Barkett'', leading all the male justices to drop ''Mr.'' from their forms of address.

In Canada, the appellation ''Mr/Madam Prime Minister'' and ''Mr./Madam Minister'' is "often heard informally" for prime ministers and other ministers, but is not in official use. ''Madam'' is an appropriate title in conversation with a female Governor General of Canada or female spouse of a Governor General on second and subsequent reference (after "Your Excellency" or "Excellency" is used on initial reference). Female members of the Supreme Court are addressed by counsel in hearings as either ''Madam Justice'' or ''Justice''; in writing, a female justice is addressed as ''The Honourable Madame (Chief) Justice''.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Supreme Court of Canada (last accessed February 19, 2021). The same style is used for other female members of the Canadian federal courts.

In the courts of England and Wales, a magistrate is addressed as "Your Worship" or "Sir" (if male) or 'Madam' (if female).Forms of Address: Law
''Debrett's'' (last accessed February 19, 2021). A female judge of the District Court may be addressed in writing as ''Dear Judge'' or ''Dear Madam'', while a female judge of the High Court may be addressed as ''Dear Madam'' or ''Dear Dame (first name)'' or ''Dear Judge''. While in court, however, District Court judges are addressed as ''Judge'' (or according to title), and female High Court judges are addressed as ''My Lady'' or ''Mrs/Ms Justice (last name)''.

In diplomacy, either ''Madam Ambassador'' and ''Ambassador (lastname)'' is an appropriate formal mode of address for a female ambassador. In some countries, the wife of an ambassador also may be referred to as ''Madam Ambassador''.Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin & Jacobina Martin
Miss Manners: Flowery courtesy titles are not really needed
''Washington Post'' (March 20, 2016). This is the case in French-speaking countries, but not among U.S. diplomats or the foreign diplomatic corps in Washington. In countries where the wives of ambassadors may also be titled ''Madam Ambassador'', the Foreign Service Institute advises U.S. diplomats to "refer to a female ambassador by her last name (Ambassador Jones) to avoid confusion and ensure that she receives her due respect." ''Madam High Commissioner'' is an appropriate formal mode of spoken address for a female high commissioner. The title ''Madam'' may also be used to address female '' chargés d'affaires'' although titles "Mrs." or "Ms." may be used instead.

Other settings

Outside the settings of formal protocol, the term ''ma'am'' may be used to address a woman with whom one is not familiar.Laura Boyd
Please Call Me Miss, Not Ma'am
''New York Times'' (September 26, 2013).Natalie Angier

''New York Times'' (August 28, 2010). The term is "meant to convey respect and graciousness lightly salted with deference." For example, waiters, store clerks, or police officers may use the term. Unlike ''miss'', the term ''ma'am'' tends to be used for older women, which is one reason some dislike the term. Others dislike the term for other reasons, such as the distance it created between the speaker and the person addressed; the "whiff of class distinctions" implied; and "dismissive, stiff and drab" associations. Others, such as etiquette authority Judith Martin, defend the term as dignified. Martin writes that ''Madam'' (or ''Ma'am'') and ''Sir'' are "all-purpose titles for direct address, as a foolproof way of conveying the respect due to people whose names escape you."

There are regional differences in use; in the United States, ''ma'am'' is more commonly heard in the South and Midwest and less common on the East and West Coasts.

Military and police usage

"Ma'am" is commonly used as a verbal address for female officers of inspector and higher ranks in British police forces. The word is also used by junior personnel to address female superiors in the British Armed Forces.

The use of ''sir'' and ''ma'am'' as forms of address for superiors are common in the United States armed forces.Alison Stewart
What's In A Title, Ma'am?
NPR, ''Weekend Edition Saturday'' (June 20, 2009). U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force regulations state that ''ma'am'' is an appropriate greeting for junior personnel when rendering a hand salute to a female superior. The use of formal modes of address such as ''sir'' or ''ma'am'', ingrained in military culture, is distinct from the American corporate or civilian setting, where most co-workers refer to each other by first name and use of formal titles is considered awkward.Jenny Hale,
Translating Military Culture to the Civilian Workplace
', U.S. Army Human Resources Command (June 14, 2017). A 2017 U.S. Army Human Resources Command publication noted that in the Northern United States, "it is common to hear young to middle-aged women say, 'Don't call me ma'am,' as it is seen as a title reserved for older women."

In the Canadian Forces, "ma'am" is a proper response when coming to attention to a female officer or chief warrant officer calling the roll.

Use in non-native English-speaking societies

The title ''Madame'' is commonly used in English for French-speaking women, e.g. "President and Madame De Gaulle."

The terms ''Madame Mao'' and ''Madame Chiang Kai-shek'' were frequently used in English to refer to Jiang Qing (the wife of Mao Zedong) and Soong Mei-ling (the wife of Chiang Kai-shek), respectively; ''Madame'' approximated the Chinese respectful forms of address.Laura Tyson Li, ''Madame Chiang Kai-Shek: China's Eternal First Lady'' (Grove Press: 2007).

References

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Women's social titles

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