Guys, Why do guys say "ma'am" instead of madam?

[DishLady]

In Europe guys say "madame" or "my lady" (or "mademoiselle" for young ladies) ... Why do guys un the US (especially down south) say "ma'am" instead?

[HawkPerception]

Ma'am is easier to say. It rolls off the tongue easier. And honestly mademoiselle or madame sounds like some cringey British butler addressing their master or owner or a server at some overly fancy restaurant.

I say mademoiselle when I give my partners food sometimes as a joke and say it with a playful French accent.

[DishLady]

Everyone outside North America uses the long version, though...

[ManOnFire]

I think it came about probably from a cockney British accent, where the Ts and Ds are clipped in their words and have almost a non-existent sound. Then when they got to the "New World" and settled in, it just evolved into a lazier sound where we now have a straight sounding "ma'am."

[DishLady]

Oh, possibly...

[MicahRaine]

I always call ladies "miss" or "ma'am" because that's just how I grew up.

I still stick to "ma'am" and "miss" because even that gets a lot of attention. If I tried to call a lady "madame" or "my lady," I would never hear the end up it.

[DishLady]

Hahaha. Well I don't think you'd hear it outside of some big city or in Europe.

[MicahRaine]

Haha exactly

[OlderAndWiser]

The bastardization of proper English is prevalent in the US.


Madame is originally French but incorporated into English. It is bastardized as “ma’am” and also as “marm” (as in “school marm.”) The use of “ma’am” is so prevalent in the southern US that it is used routinely by very educated people.

[DJB72]

Bastardisation?

Ladies and Gentlemen in Windsor, the rattle you're hearing is Her Majesty turning in her grave...

[OlderAndWiser]

@DJB72 "Bastardize" was first used in English in the late 1500's, before there were any Americans to blame.

[DJB72]

True, I was specifically meaning the Queen's preference for being called "Ma'am" though...

[OlderAndWiser]

@DJB72 Well, it IS a corruption of the word!

[Massageman]

or maybe he doesn't think she's the head hooker.

[Juxtapose]

Language evolves regardless if you like it or not. I personally don't like it and wish it would be more rigid but it evolves pretty rapidly. In scientific papers they even make a point to define simple things such as "can" because different English speakers have different interpretations of that.

[DrPepper12]

You want the French language NAZIs? Fuck that! Organic and flexible is better

[Juxtapose]

@DrPepper12 I like went language is very consistent. English is so inconsistent that in scientific papers they literally have to tell each other up front what certain basic words mean to them. That means the language is failing in my book.

You should be able to open up a dictionary and very clearly work out what someone is saying down to the tiniest detail. It should be like a math equation.

[Juxtapose]

*when language

[Staximus]

Because it's one syllable. Who wants to say madame, mademoiselle, my lady, or all that rigamarole when they could just say maam? When I used to work at the bar, young women would get pissed when I called them "maam" hahaha

[DishLady]

It's true, bc our moms are called "ma'am"... It's equated with age...

[RyanR03]

Because some folks like 15 generations ago started saying it and 15 generations later it is just handed to us as polite form of formally addressing a woman. Most people don’t study the etymology of word they use… they just say them. And say ma’am cause their “momma said too” 😆

[edmwarrior]

it's when I want to show a woman respect but often times women get upset with it because they think i'm calling them old (both older women and younger women have gotten upset with me).

[DishLady]

It's true. I used to get upset about it, but at the same time I recognize it's meant respectfully.

What I *don't* like is when someone starts off calling me by my name then jumps in with "ma'am" in a way that's dismissive rather than respectful.

[edmwarrior]

that's understandable @DishLady that sounds rude to do

[Mark987]

I have always referred to my girlfriend's mother as mrs so and so and close family members as auntie or uncle ( I was taught by my parents). Even if they tell me otherwise I can't help myself.

[DishLady]

Yes, see, culturally Thia/Tante (auntie) are the words we call older women to be courteous.

[Mark987]

exactly

[RetroReviews]

Different cultures just like in England what we call french fries they call chips, and what we call chips they call crisps

[RebelinSteel]

In England it’s Ma’am. It is also used within military when addressing female officers, dignitaries, royalty etc.

[OfMiceandMen]

Just a shortened version from madam to ma'am Means the same thing, it just lazified.

[onedarkcloud]

An American Bastardization of a French Word lost in history as to why we say, ma'am

[DishLady]

Funny bc my gran always used to say American English "eats half the word"... She's probably in heaven laughing at this question thinking, "Told you so."

[DJB72]

It's the recognised abbreviation. The aristocracy in the UK uses it - usually for the ladies of the Royal Family.

[Anonymous]

Only in French-speaking countries do they do that. They would never say mademoiselle in England or Italy or Germany.

[DishLady]

True, but they don't say "MA'AM" either.

[exitseven]

I picked this up in Texas during basic training and it stuck with me ever since.

[DrPepper12]

It's conventional and what I learned. Never thought about it. English is such a shitty limiting language anyway...

[worldscolide]

Cause it's mostly a uk/EU thing. It's not been a thing here since the the 1800's

[Ironco]

Mine was from my time in the military

Yes, sir

Yes, ma'am

[AviatorTom]

Madam is the woman who runs a brothel, while ma'am is a shortened firm of madame, a term for a sophisticated woman.

[CubaPirate]

Bastardisation of the English language I'd say

[beefcakebradybatson]

A "madam" runs a brothel, so few women would be comfortable with that form of address.

[DishLady]

HAHAHA. That's only in the US.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Here in Windsor, two of my cousins ran a brothel during World War Two and into the sixties across from DOWNTOWN POLICE HEADQUARTERS !!! ( Windsor cops were so dirty our Province of Ontario revoked our police charter and the Ontario Provincial Police guarded Windsor from 1950 until 1966, when the city amalgamated some townships and former cities within Windsor and Ontario permitted the Windsor Police Services to again protect Windsor.)

[Wise4myage]

Mam just sounds more respectful.

[DishLady]

True. Much nicer than "hey you"...

[Wise4myage]

I agree.😊

[Dongie]

I use ma'am and lady. U kno

[DishLady]

I do... Welcome back. Missed seeing your comments on here. I reamed G@G Admin about it.

[Dongie]

You didn't!!

[Dongie]

I've already received 5 calls since 1:37

[Juxtapose]

Good to have you back man.

[DishLady]

I most certainly did. There are serious bullies and offensive pinheads on here who are never EVER held accountable for anything, but YOU were offline for how many days? What for? Pfft.

[Juxtapose]

Pro-tip: if you are unsure what moderators are screwing with you? Block every single one of them.

[Dongie]

2 days Lady. I thought they had me agin early this morning. Less than 24 after coming back

[DishLady]

I like some of the moderators, though.

[Dongie]

That Juxta

[Juxtapose]

I personally don't block ones I trust myself but I did want to give advice that was most likely to work.

🤜🤛 Dongie

[ProbablyClueless]

Just rolls off the tongue easier, I guess?

[spartan55]

My lady? I haven't heard that since the Civil War.

[DishLady]

You were alive during the civil war?

[Dongie]

🤣🤣😂😅

[spartan55]

I was, I'm a vampire 🧛‍♂️

[Dongie]

Cool

[DishLady]

I believe that @spartan55...

[BLP11520]

We were taught that as children

[Stef12]

Are you including the UK in Europe?

[Twalli]

Because that's considered the most polite

[OddBeMe]

Because the latter sounds like female pimp.

[MrGSpotHer]

Ma'am is a boss