Well, it's official. French Prime Minister François Fillon has declared that the title mademoiselle (Miss) will no longer be included on any government forms or documents. The decision comes after months of campaigning by two French feminist groups, Osez le féminisme! (Dare To Be Feminist!) and Les Chiennes de garde (The Watchdogs), who argue that the term places an unfair emphasis on a woman's marital status. Mademoiselle literally means "my young lady" (ma + demoiselle), just as madame comes from "my lady" and monsieur "my lord." Monsieur has long been used to identify both single and married men, as the archaic male equivalent of mademoiselle, mon damoiseau, never became an honorific title. Now madame will be used for all women, whether single or married, and is thus best translated as "Ms." instead of "Mrs."
Madame, qu'est-ce que vous avez préparé, vous?
Ma'am, what about you, what did you prepare?
Caption 17, Actus Quartier - Fête de quartier Python-Duvernois
Play Caption
Ne riez pas, monsieur, c'est très sérieux.
Do not laugh, sir, it's quite serious.
Caption 17, Le Journal - Les effets bénéfiques du rire!
Play Caption
Non, c'est madame qui a préparé le riz.
No, it's the lady who prepared the rice.
Caption 38, Actus Quartier - Fête de quartier Python-Duvernois
Play Caption
Y a un beau monsieur là de quatre-vingt-treize ans qui veut vous inviter, hein!
There's a handsome ninety-three-year-old gentleman here who wants to invite you, you know!
Caption 33, Actu Vingtième - Le Repas des anciens
Play Caption
Mesdames et messieurs,
Ladies and gentlemen,
sans plus tarder, voici Hugo Bonneville.
without further delay, here is Hugo Bonneville.
Captions 4-5, Hugo Bonneville - Être musicien
Play Caption