Our colleagues at Fodor’s Travel often receive many language questions as it relates to readers’ trips. How to greet someone in France recently came up on their forums and our Fodor’s friends passed the query to us.
I understand that it is considered rude to walk into a shop in France and say simply, “bonjour,” that one is supposed to say “bonjour madam or mademoiselle.” If you are not sure whether the shop keeper is single or married, which is the more proper greeting? — Fodorite CYESQ
Our resident Frenchman Sev checked with friends and family in Paris before providing this response:
Nowadays, to say “Bonjour” is fine. If one wants to say more, one can say “Bonjour Madame.” (If the said shopkeeper is a woman.) If the person is really young (a teenager), one can say “Bonjour Mademoiselle.”
Sev also informed us that just last week the French Prime Minster Francois Fillon ordered that “Mademoiselle” be removed from all legal or administrative documents, so only “Madame” remains. Feminist groups have long disparaged the term “Mademoiselle” considering it condescending and intrusive (men are called “monsieur” whether or not they are married.)
"Bonjour Mademoiselle" should be reserved for greeting teenage women, like the one shown here. (Credit: Gabriel Moginot)
