Fräulein

Fräulein is a German word historically used to address an unmarried woman, akin to "Miss" in English. The term was derived from "Frau," meaning "woman" or "Mrs.," with the diminutive suffix "-lein" added. For centuries, it was the standard polite form of address for young women and unmarried adult women. However, the usage of Fräulein began to decline significantly in the latter half of the 20th century. This shift was influenced by a growing awareness of gender equality and a desire to move away from titles that distinguished women based on their marital status, a distinction not typically applied to men (Herr, meaning "Mr."). By the late 1970s and 1980s, it became increasingly common and considered more appropriate to address all women, regardless of marital status, as Frau. Today, the use of Fräulein is considered outdated and potentially condescending in most German-speaking contexts, and Frau is the universally accepted and polite form of address for women. While some older generations might still use it, it is generally avoided in formal and modern settings.