monsieur

Everyday

1. (French) Monsieur is the French word for "Mr" or "sir", used before a man's name or to speak to a man politely: «Bonjour, monsieur!» tree →
2. In English, «monsieur» is sometimes used in jokes or stories to make a man sound French. tree →
3. Monsieur can also be a funny title put before an animal's name in a story, such as a cat, to make it sound grand and French. tree →

In the lessons

In French lessons, pupils learn polite greetings: «Bonjour, monsieur», «Merci, madame», «Au revoir, mademoiselle»; in France it is polite to add monsieur or madame when greeting a shop keeper. It is written M. before a name: M. Dupont. It sounds like "muh-SYUR" to an English ear. It is a French word, not an English one. Phrases: «Bonjour, monsieur», «Monsieur Dupont», «Mesdames et messieurs» (ladies and gentlemen).

Examples

• (French) Bonjour, monsieur ! tree →
• (French) Merci beaucoup, monsieur. tree →
• (French) Monsieur Martin is our French teacher. tree →
• (French) Mesdames et messieurs, the show is about to begin. tree →
• The waiter said, "Your soup, monsieur." tree →
• (French) Excusez-moi, monsieur, où est la gare ? tree →
• A rash and foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag, and Monsieur Puss, immediately drawing close the strings, took and killed him without pity. tree →

Note

Plural: «messieurs» ("may-SYUR"). Short form: «M.» (not «Mr.»). Women: «madame» (Mrs, Ms), «mademoiselle» (Miss, now old-fashioned). The «on» sounds like "uh", not "on". It is not an English word.