Mme

Mme is the standard abbreviation for Madame, the French honorific used for adult women. It functions similarly to Mrs. or Ms. in English and is placed before a surname or a full name, for example, Mme Dupont or Mme Marie Dupont, in formal or polite contexts.

In French, Madame is used in formal, professional, and courteous address, including letters, official forms, signage, and public discourse. It is typically written without a period in French typography, though English-language style guides may render it as Mme. with a period. The masculine equivalent is M. (Monsieur). The informal unmarried counterpart is Mlle (Mademoiselle), though usage of Mlle has declined in many contexts in favor of Mme.

Etymologywise, Madame derives from Old French ma dame, literally “my lady,” itself from Latin mea domina, reflecting a historical form of respectful address. Over time, Madame came to denote the title itself, independent of marital status in modern usage.

Plural and related forms: the plural written form in French is Mesdames, often abbreviated in lists as Mmes. In English contexts, you may likewise encounter Mmes to indicate multiple Madames. The term remains a conventional sign of courtesy in French-speaking settings and in international communications referring to French or Francophone individuals.