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Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for
women A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or adolescent is referred to as a girl. Typically, women are of the female sex and inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, and women with functional u ...
in the
English language English is a West Germanic language that developed in early medieval England and has since become a English as a lingua franca, global lingua franca. The namesake of the language is the Angles (tribe), Angles, one of the Germanic peoples th ...
, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French , from "" meaning "my lady"''.'' In French, the abbreviation is "" or "" and the plural is (abbreviated "" or ""). These terms ultimately derive from the
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
, meaning "
mistress Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to: Romance and relationships * Mistress (lover), a female lover of a married man ** Royal mistress * Maîtresse-en-titre, official mistress of a ...
".


Use as a form of address


Formal protocol

After addressing her as "
Your Majesty Majesty (abbreviated HM for His Majesty or Her Majesty, oral address Your Majesty; from the Latin , meaning ) is used as a manner of address by many monarchs, usually kings or queens. Where used, the style outranks the style of ''(Imperial/Roy ...
" once, it is correct to address the
Queen of the United Kingdom The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British cons ...
as "Ma'am" with the British short pronunciation (rhyming with "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 The British royal family comprises Charles III and other members of his family. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is considere ...
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 President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *''Præsidenten ...
and
vice president A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
s of
republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...
s.Styles of address
Canadian Heritage (last accessed February 19, 2021).

Protocol for the Modern Diplomat
', U.S. Department of State
Foreign Service Institute The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is the United States federal government's primary training institution for members of the U.S. foreign service community, preparing American diplomats as well as other professionals to advance U.S. foreign ...
, 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 The United States attorney general is the head of the United States Department of Justice and serves as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The attorney general acts as the principal legal advisor to the president of the ...
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 The speaker of the United States House of Representatives, commonly known as the speaker of the House or House speaker, is the Speaker (politics), presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the United ...
(e.g.
Nancy Pelosi Nancy Patricia Pelosi ( ; ; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who was the List of Speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011 an ...
),
British House of Commons The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 memb ...
(e.g.
Betty Boothroyd Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd (8 October 1929 – 26 February 2023), was a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich (UK Parliament constituency), West Bromwich an ...
),
Canadian House of Commons The House of Commons of Canada () is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body who ...
, or 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 Sandra Day O'Connor (March 26, 1930 – December 1, 2023) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, O' ...
joined the court in 1981. Female members of
state supreme courts In the United States, a state supreme court (known by other names in some states) is the highest court in the state judiciary of a U.S. state. On matters of state law, the judgment of a state supreme court is considered final and binding in b ...
were previously sometimes styled as ''Madam Justice'', matching the ''Mr. Justice'' formally used. Justice
Rosemary Barkett Rosemary Barkett (née Barakat; born August 29, 1939) is an American judge of the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal located in The Hague, Netherlands since 2013. Previously, she served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Co ...
of the
Florida Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Florida is the state supreme court, highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. It consists of seven justices—one of whom serves as Chief Justice. Six members are chosen from six districts around the state to foster geog ...
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 A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but rat ...
and other ministers but that is incorrect and Mr./Madam are not used in addressing a prime minister or other minister. Instead, they are addressed simply as "Prime Minister" or "Minister", as applicable. ''Madam'' is an appropriate title in conversation with a female
Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...
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 In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
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 The Courts of England and Wales, supported administratively by His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales. Except in constitutional matters, ...
, a
magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judi ...
is addressed as "
Your Worship ''Worship'' is an honorific prefix for mayors, justices of the peace, peace commissioners, and magistrates in some present or former Commonwealth realms. In spoken address, these officials are addressed as Your Worship or referred to as His Worsh ...
" 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 District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations, some call them "small case court" usually as the lowest level of the hierarchy. These courts generally work under a higher court which exercises control over the lower co ...
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 ''Dame'' is a traditionally British honorific title given to women who have been admitted to certain orders of chivalry. It is the female equivalent of ''Sir'', the title used by knights. Baronet, Baronetesses Suo jure, in their own right also u ...
(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 Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...
, either ''Madam Ambassador'' and ''Ambassador (lastname)'' is an appropriate formal mode of address for a female
ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...
. 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 The French language became an international language, the second Lingua franca, international language alongside Latin, in the Middle Ages, "from the fourteenth century onwards". It was not by virtue of the power of the Kingdom of France: '"... ...
, 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 The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is the United States federal government's primary training institution for members of the U.S. foreign service community, preparing American diplomats as well as other professionals to advance U.S. foreign ...
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 Judith Martin (née Perlman; born September 13, 1938), better known by the pen name Miss Manners, is an American columnist, author, and etiquette authority. Early life and career Martin is the daughter of Helen and Jacob Perlman, both Jewish. ...
, 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 South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
and
Midwest The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
and less common on the
East East is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fact that ea ...
and West Coasts.


Military and police usage

"Ma'am" is commonly used as a verbal address for female officers of
inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia The rank of Inspector is present in all Australian police forces excep ...
and higher ranks in
British police Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Most law enforcement duties are carried out by police, police constables of ...
forces. The word is also used by junior personnel to address female superiors in the
British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces are the unified military, military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its British Overseas Territories, Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests ...
. The use of ''sir'' and ''ma'am'' as forms of address for superiors are common in the
United States armed forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
.Alison Stewart
What's In A Title, Ma'am?
NPR, ''Weekend Edition Saturday'' (June 20, 2009).
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
and
U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its origins to 1 ...
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 The Northern United States, commonly referred to as the American North, the Northern States, or simply the North, is a geographical and historical region of the United States. History Early history Before the 19th century westward expansion, the ...
, "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 The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
, "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 Jiang Qing (March 191414 May 1991), also known as Madame Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary, actress, and political figure. She was the fourth wife of Mao Zedong, the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, Chairman of the Communis ...
(the wife of
Mao Zedong Mao Zedong pronounced ; traditionally Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Mao Tse-tung. (26December 18939September 1976) was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and political theorist who founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) in ...
) and
Soong Mei-ling Soong Mei-ling (also spelled Soong May-ling; March 4, 1898 – October 23, 2003), also known as Madame Chiang (), was a Chinese political figure and socialite. The youngest of the Soong sisters, she married Chiang Kai-shek and played a prom ...
(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

{{Social titles Women's social titles History of women in the United States History of women in the United Kingdom History of women in Canada ca:Madam de:Madame