messieurs

Messieurs is the plural form of the French honorific monsieur, equivalent to “gentlemen” or “sir” in English. It is used to address a group of men or to refer to men collectively in formal contexts. The term originates from the French expression mon sieur (“my lord”), with the plural form messieurs used for multiple recipients.

In written French, Messieurs is a formal initial salutation in letters and official documents. It is used to address a group of male recipients, with the body of the message following after a comma or colon, depending on typographic convention.

There is no feminine form for the plural; to address a mixed or unknown group, the conventional expression is Mesdames et Messieurs (“ladies and gentlemen”). In contemporary usage, Messieurs remains common in formal correspondence and ceremonial contexts, while in everyday language speakers may opt for less gender-specific forms or address individuals directly.

Historically, messieurs appeared in medieval and early modern France as a term for lords, knights, or other men of standing. Today its usage is largely limited to formal or institutional settings, where it signals respect and formality in addressing male recipients.