How do you abbreviate title in French?

Answered by Phillip Nicastro

In French, titles are commonly abbreviated to make communication more efficient and concise. There are specific abbreviations for the titles “Monsieur” and “Madame” that are widely used in written and formal communication.

The title “Monsieur” is abbreviated as “M.” with a period after the abbreviation. This abbreviation is used before a man’s full name or surname. For example, if someone’s name is Jean Dupont, you would address them as “M. Dupont” or simply “M.” in more formal situations.

On the other hand, the title “Madame” is abbreviated as “Mme” without a period. Similar to “Monsieur,” this abbreviation is used before a woman’s full name or surname. For instance, if someone’s name is Marie Martin, you would address them as “Mme Martin” or “Mme” in more formal contexts.

It’s important to note that these abbreviations are commonly used in written correspondence, official documents, and formal situations. In more casual conversations or informal writing, it is more common to use the full titles “Monsieur” and “Madame” without abbreviation.

To summarize, in French, the title “Monsieur” is abbreviated as “M.” with a period, while the title “Madame” is abbreviated as “Mme” without a period. These abbreviations are commonly used in formal contexts to address individuals.