Miss vs. Mrs vs. Ms

Дата публикации: Jan 17, 2016 6:53:18 PM

miss noun BrE /mɪs/ ; NAmE /mɪs/

1. title/form of address

Miss used before the family name, or the first and family name, of a woman who is not married, in order to speak or write to her politely

That's all, thank you, Miss Lipman.

Miss a title given to the winner of a beauty contest in a particular country, town, etc.

Miss Brighton

the Miss World contest

2. Miss (informal) used especially by men to address a young woman when they do not know her name

Will that be all, Miss?

3. Miss (British English, informal) used as a form of address by children in some schools to a woman teacher, whether she is married or not

Good morning, Miss!

compare sir

4. (old-fashioned) a girl or young woman

Ms abbreviation(British English) (also Ms. North American English, British English) BrE /mɪz/ ; NAmE /mɪz/ ; BrE /məz/ ; NAmE /məz/

a title that comes before a woman’s family name or before her first and family names together, and that can be used when you do not want to state whether she is married or not

Ms Murphy

Ms Jean Murphy

Mrs abbreviation(British English) (also Mrs. North American English, British English) BrE /ˈmɪsɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪsɪz/

a title that comes before a married woman’s family name or before her first and family names together

Mrs Hill

Mrs Susan Hill

Mr and Mrs Hill

missus noun BrE /ˈmɪsɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪsɪz/ (British English)

1. (also missis) (informal, becoming old-fashioned) (used after ‘the’, ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘his’) a man’s wife

How's the missus (= your wife)?

My missus won’t let me smoke in the house.

3. (informal) (used especially by young people) girlfriend

My missus doesn't like computer games.

my current missus

3. (also missis) (slang, becoming old-fashioned) used by some people as a form of address to a woman whose name they do not know

Is this your bag, missus?

madam noun BrE /ˈmædəm/ ; NAmE /ˈmædəm/

1. [singular] (formal) used when speaking or writing to a woman in a formal or business situation

Can I help you, madam?

Dear Madam (= used like Dear Sir in a letter)

2. [countable] (informal, disapproving, especially British English) a girl or young woman who expects other people to do what she wants

She's a proper little madam.

3. [countable] a woman who is in charge of the prostitutes in a brothel

ma’am noun[singular]

1. BrE /mæm/ ; NAmE /mæm/ (North American English) used as a polite way of addressing a woman

‘Can I help you, ma'am?’

compare sir

2. BrE /mɑːm/ ; NAmE /mɑːm/ (British English) used when addressing the Queen or senior women officers in the police or army

= madam

lady noun BrE /ˈleɪdi/ ; NAmE /ˈleɪdi/ (pl. ladies)

1. [countable] a word used to mean ‘woman’ that some people, especially older people, consider is more polite

There's a lady waiting to see you.

He was with an attractive young lady.

the ladies’ golf championship

(British English) a tea lady (= a woman who serves tea in an office)

(North American English, approving) She's a tough lady.

a lady doctor/golfer

Some women object to the way lady is used in some of these examples and prefer it to be avoided if possible:a doctor/a woman doctor

There's someone waiting to see you.

see also bag lady, cleaning lady, dinner lady, First Lady, lunch lady, old lady

2. [countable] a woman who is polite and well educated, has excellent manners and always behaves well

His wife was a real lady.

compare gentleman

3. [countable, usually plural] (formal) used when speaking to or about a girl or woman, especially somebody you do not know

Can I take your coats, ladies?

Could I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?

Some women do not like ladies used on its own, as in the first example, and prefer it to be left out.

4. [singular] (especially North American English) an informal way to talk to a woman, showing a lack of respect

Listen, lady, don't shout at me.

5, [countable] (old-fashioned) (in Britain) a woman belonging to a high social class

the lords and ladies of the court

a lady’s maid

6. Lady [countable] (in Britain) a title used by a woman who is a member of the nobility, or by somebody who has been given the title ‘lady’ as an honour. The wives and daughters of some members of the nobility and the wives of knights are also called ‘Lady’.

Lady Howe

Lady Jane Grey

compare lord, sir

7. a/the ladies [uncountable] (British English) (North American English ladies’ room [countable]) a toilet/bathroom for women in a public building or place

Could you tell me where the ladies is?

8. Our Lady a title used to refer to Mary, the mother of Christ, especially in the Roman Catholic Church

Our Lady of Lourdes

mister noun BrE /ˈmɪstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪstər/ - Mister the full form, not often used in writing, of the abbreviation Mr

(informal) used, especially by children, to address a man whose name they do not know

Please, mister, can we have our ball back?

Mr abbreviation(British English) (also Mr. North American English, British English) BrE /ˈmɪstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪstər/

1. a title that comes before a man’s family name, or before his first and family names together

Mr Brown

Mr John Brown

Mr and Mrs Brown

a title used to address a man in some official positions

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Mr. President

sir noun BrE /sɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /sɜːr/ ; BrE /sə(r)/ ; NAmE /sər/

1. used as a polite way of addressing a man whose name you do not know, for example in a shop/store or restaurant, or to show respect

Good morning, sir. Can I help you?

Are you ready to order, sir?

‘Report to me tomorrow, corporal!’ ‘Yes, sir!’

‘Thank you very much.’ ‘You're welcome, sir. Have a nice day.’

compare ma’am