What is the female equivalent of “Sir”?

[OddBeMe]

I get derided by chicks for calling them Ma’am. And Miss doesn’t seem right…

Updates

+1 y

I still don’t feel a “consensus” was reached. Maybe I was aiming high.

[WhiteSteve]

I’m a big “Miss” guy. I save “ma’am” for legitimately elderly women. I JUST had my first objection to “miss” earlier this month, but we were at a bar at closing time, and I think she had a few in her😂 She was like “MISS?”…. and she’s probably my age, and “sir” cuts me like a knife every time I get hit with it, lmao, so I thought I was being nice. I was just like “I don’t know, did you want me to call you ‘ma’am’?”😝

I like “Miss.” Feels polite and respectful, and it makes middle aged women’s day every time, seemingly, hahaha

[RavVid]

Ma'am is saying they are an old chick, so they won't like that. I can pick a girl who will have the salutation of Miss or Ms. You could get away with Miss but I am not so sure if you used Ms even if they were one.

I seem to be getting away with lady lately, as in serve the lady first, without adverse reactions so maybe it's OK again.

Fortunately Australians aren't as polite as Americans so we don't feel the lack of a feminine Sir.

[IslaTheWitch]

I think the equivalent for Sir is Ma’am :D I'm called here like that sometimes...

But I can suspect younger girls don't really like it lol...

In German, we have a perfect word fräulein... not really in use anymore but still matches lol

[OddBeMe]

old chicks hate it. especially in northern california.

[IslaTheWitch]

good, I don't feel old, lol...
and I'm not from CA :D

[DryGermanGuy]

Uuh! :-D Using Fräulein is really pushing it, unless it's obviously an underage teenager.

[OddBeMe]

@DryGermanGuy Frau Blucher. (Horse neigh)

[IslaTheWitch]

@DryGermanGuy You see, my German education unfortunately covers only 2 years in Gymnasium... I don't think I ever had a lesson about this word lol. What I know is mostly from movies, which means I got it wrong. Shame on me. Even here, I'm learning lol

[RavVid]

@DryGermanGuy Doesn't Fraulein mean a cute youthful looking woman? Where I am if you suggest a woman under 50 is not a girl there is hell to pay. If a guy looks legally entitled to drink alcohol I can say serve this guy first, but if I say serve this girl or serve this woman first they might be offended.

Funny thing is young women think Ms means an older divorced woman and will be offended if you used that.

[DryGermanGuy]

It means primarily unmarried woman, independent from her age. The male equivalent - even more archaic - would be Junker. And since it's no longer society's business who is married or not, these words fell out of common usage.

[XXblack88]

it's Ma'am. while I won't lose my mind if someone calls me by this title, I feel like this title is too formal for my liking.

[OddBeMe]

Do you call men sir?

[XXblack88]

If I don't know their name yeah or if I'm talking to an older man who like 60 +

[OddBeMe]

Is there an informal saying for women when we don’t know their name?

[XXblack88]

@OddBeMe not that I'm a where of.

[Drewtate]

In terms of nobility and titles I believe its lady. It kind of vary throughout the ages.

I think modern terms i believe its madame.

[Drewtate]

Dame is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the British honours system and those of several other Commonwealth realms, such as Australia and New Zealand, with the masculine form of address being Sir.
Formerly, a knight's wife was given the title of Dame before her name, but this usage was replaced by Lady during the 17th century.
Madam
The history of the word madam is similar to sir. The word derives from my dame.
noun, plural mes·dames [mey-dam, -dahm] for 1; mad·ams for 2, 3.
(often initial capital letter) a polite term of address to a woman, originally used only to a woman of rank or authority:
Madam President; May I help you, madam?

the woman in charge of a household:
Is the madam at home?

[OddBeMe]

It’s also a 1920s name for a hot number. A pair of gams. Hey dame, back that caboose in here…

[Drewtate]

Say that in 2024 and they'd think you having a stroke

[Joshydavid25]

It's ma'am, but many women don't like it because it makes them feel older, or it feels too impersonal maybe.. I notice a lot of women like to call people "sweetie" or "hon"..

[molonski2]

Madam is the equivalent of " Sir " , I really only used to use that in business when I didn't like them.

[mandyfire98]

It's ma'am. Move down south. It's completely part of society there. Sir and ma'am.

[OddBeMe]

I am in texas. I get more flak from chicks in cali, true.

[mandyfire98]

Yeah I can imagine. I'm in Kentucky and everything is yes sir or yes ma'am.

[BoopBoopBeep]

It's ma'am. They're just uppity bitches that need something to whine about.

[Sevenpointfive]

the equivalent is SIR. lesbians don't respond well to any kind of feminism

[Sevenpointfive]

was there ever a female knight? maybe today there is? i'm not English but i'd look into the knighthood.

[DaBiggestBird]

I just say “sir”. It’s a respect thing for me.

[Anonymous]

Ma'am. If women want to take offense to something obviously isn't intended to be offensive, more power to them, but it's ma'am.

[Anonymous]

Ma'am is correct. Women don't like it because they don't like being considered an adult.

[HappyWoman34]

Madam 😊

[NathanDavis]

señora...

[exitseven]

I have been calling them ma'am since I was 19.

[andreasderjuengere]

For the sake of equality: ''Siress''? :D

[tfan1]

Madam I would think?

[msc545]

Use their name...

[Agape93]

Ma'am

[Zestyassmf1997]

Madam.

[CozyCoffin]

Madam.

[Twalli]

Madam or ma'am