In an English-speaking country, how would a household employee address their female employer?












5















Would it be Miss? Mistress? Madam?



Or, should she be young (underage and/or unmarried): Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?



EDIT (to clarify):



How would a butler, chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, etc, address someone whom he/she works for in a wealthy family?




  • If the employer is older, is it Miss? Or Mistress? Or Madam?


  • Or if she is young, Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?







greetings forms-of-address address







share|improve this question




















  • 2





    Who the heck still has masters and servants??? Is this for fiction of an imagined or bygone era?

    – tchrist♦
    2 days ago








  • 4





    You will probably need to specify the time and place.

    – GEdgar
    2 days ago






  • 2





    I think "in an English-speaking country" is too broad, since forms of address vary across the globe - do you mean England, the US, Australia, India?

    – Mark Beadles
    2 days ago






  • 2





    My housekeeper and my gardener both call me by my first name, and this is in Washington, which is more formal than much of the country. I'm only Mr. Choster to salesmen, flight attendants, and hospital personnel.

    – choster
    2 days ago






  • 2





    @ConanG I don't believe Alfred addresses Bruce Wayne as master because of the servant relationship, but because master is the equivalent of mister for a young boy, and a term that for them that has evolved over the years into a term of endearment.

    – choster
    2 days ago


















5















Would it be Miss? Mistress? Madam?



Or, should she be young (underage and/or unmarried): Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?



EDIT (to clarify):



How would a butler, chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, etc, address someone whom he/she works for in a wealthy family?




  • If the employer is older, is it Miss? Or Mistress? Or Madam?


  • Or if she is young, Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?







greetings forms-of-address address







share|improve this question




















  • 2





    Who the heck still has masters and servants??? Is this for fiction of an imagined or bygone era?

    – tchrist♦
    2 days ago








  • 4





    You will probably need to specify the time and place.

    – GEdgar
    2 days ago






  • 2





    I think "in an English-speaking country" is too broad, since forms of address vary across the globe - do you mean England, the US, Australia, India?

    – Mark Beadles
    2 days ago






  • 2





    My housekeeper and my gardener both call me by my first name, and this is in Washington, which is more formal than much of the country. I'm only Mr. Choster to salesmen, flight attendants, and hospital personnel.

    – choster
    2 days ago






  • 2





    @ConanG I don't believe Alfred addresses Bruce Wayne as master because of the servant relationship, but because master is the equivalent of mister for a young boy, and a term that for them that has evolved over the years into a term of endearment.

    – choster
    2 days ago
















5












5








5








Would it be Miss? Mistress? Madam?



Or, should she be young (underage and/or unmarried): Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?



EDIT (to clarify):



How would a butler, chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, etc, address someone whom he/she works for in a wealthy family?




  • If the employer is older, is it Miss? Or Mistress? Or Madam?


  • Or if she is young, Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?







greetings forms-of-address address







share|improve this question
















Would it be Miss? Mistress? Madam?



Or, should she be young (underage and/or unmarried): Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?



EDIT (to clarify):



How would a butler, chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, etc, address someone whom he/she works for in a wealthy family?




  • If the employer is older, is it Miss? Or Mistress? Or Madam?


  • Or if she is young, Young Miss? Young Mistress? Young Lady? Young Madam?







greetings forms-of-address address




greetings forms-of-address address






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 days ago









Mark Beadles

20.5k35891




20.5k35891










asked 2 days ago









ConanGConanG

342




342








  • 2





    Who the heck still has masters and servants??? Is this for fiction of an imagined or bygone era?

    – tchrist♦
    2 days ago








  • 4





    You will probably need to specify the time and place.

    – GEdgar
    2 days ago






  • 2





    I think "in an English-speaking country" is too broad, since forms of address vary across the globe - do you mean England, the US, Australia, India?

    – Mark Beadles
    2 days ago






  • 2





    My housekeeper and my gardener both call me by my first name, and this is in Washington, which is more formal than much of the country. I'm only Mr. Choster to salesmen, flight attendants, and hospital personnel.

    – choster
    2 days ago






  • 2





    @ConanG I don't believe Alfred addresses Bruce Wayne as master because of the servant relationship, but because master is the equivalent of mister for a young boy, and a term that for them that has evolved over the years into a term of endearment.

    – choster
    2 days ago
















  • 2





    Who the heck still has masters and servants??? Is this for fiction of an imagined or bygone era?

    – tchrist♦
    2 days ago








  • 4





    You will probably need to specify the time and place.

    – GEdgar
    2 days ago






  • 2





    I think "in an English-speaking country" is too broad, since forms of address vary across the globe - do you mean England, the US, Australia, India?

    – Mark Beadles
    2 days ago






  • 2





    My housekeeper and my gardener both call me by my first name, and this is in Washington, which is more formal than much of the country. I'm only Mr. Choster to salesmen, flight attendants, and hospital personnel.

    – choster
    2 days ago






  • 2





    @ConanG I don't believe Alfred addresses Bruce Wayne as master because of the servant relationship, but because master is the equivalent of mister for a young boy, and a term that for them that has evolved over the years into a term of endearment.

    – choster
    2 days ago










2




2





Who the heck still has masters and servants??? Is this for fiction of an imagined or bygone era?

– tchrist♦
2 days ago







Who the heck still has masters and servants??? Is this for fiction of an imagined or bygone era?

– tchrist♦
2 days ago






4




4





You will probably need to specify the time and place.

– GEdgar
2 days ago





You will probably need to specify the time and place.

– GEdgar
2 days ago




2




2





I think "in an English-speaking country" is too broad, since forms of address vary across the globe - do you mean England, the US, Australia, India?

– Mark Beadles
2 days ago





I think "in an English-speaking country" is too broad, since forms of address vary across the globe - do you mean England, the US, Australia, India?

– Mark Beadles
2 days ago




2




2





My housekeeper and my gardener both call me by my first name, and this is in Washington, which is more formal than much of the country. I'm only Mr. Choster to salesmen, flight attendants, and hospital personnel.

– choster
2 days ago





My housekeeper and my gardener both call me by my first name, and this is in Washington, which is more formal than much of the country. I'm only Mr. Choster to salesmen, flight attendants, and hospital personnel.

– choster
2 days ago




2




2





@ConanG I don't believe Alfred addresses Bruce Wayne as master because of the servant relationship, but because master is the equivalent of mister for a young boy, and a term that for them that has evolved over the years into a term of endearment.

– choster
2 days ago







@ConanG I don't believe Alfred addresses Bruce Wayne as master because of the servant relationship, but because master is the equivalent of mister for a young boy, and a term that for them that has evolved over the years into a term of endearment.

– choster
2 days ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3














People still employ cleaning ladies, dog-walkers, lawn-mowers, and snow shovelers; these are not full time servants who work only for this person, but they are household employees. In my experience in Canada the existence of an employer-employee relationship doesn't change what people call each other: an adult would call me Kate by default and a child might call me Mrs Gregory or Kate depending on their age and our existing relationship (eg neighbor children might have already been invited to call me Kate.)



If your question applies specifically to full time employees who work for only one family and share a home with them, then I would not be surprised to hear a more formal address (eg Mrs Gregory, or if I had a title perhaps Your Grace) simply to keep the distinction between friend/family/roomate and employee clear. Also certain occupations have a tendency to give their employees titles (eg nannies might call all the moms Mother, all the dads Father) -- these are occupations in which the employee is, to a certain extent, setting the rules of engagement. A pool boy would not do this. A tennis coach might.






share|improve this answer































    0














    I suppose knowledge of such matters depends heavily on the stratum in which one was brought up. First-hand experience counts.



    That said, I believe that a female employer older than 18 (or 21) would be addressed as



    Madam (or ma'am, if you will)



    while a younger individual would be



    Miss [ First Name, i.e. Mary, Jane, Gwendolyn, etc ]



    or



    Miss [ Surname, i.e. Johnson, Hamilton, Capet, etc ]






    share|improve this answer





















    • 3





      And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

      – Janus Bahs Jacquet
      2 days ago






    • 3





      Where would these forms of address be common?

      – 1006a
      2 days ago











    • @1006a In a townhouse.

      – Ricky
      yesterday











    Your Answer








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3














    People still employ cleaning ladies, dog-walkers, lawn-mowers, and snow shovelers; these are not full time servants who work only for this person, but they are household employees. In my experience in Canada the existence of an employer-employee relationship doesn't change what people call each other: an adult would call me Kate by default and a child might call me Mrs Gregory or Kate depending on their age and our existing relationship (eg neighbor children might have already been invited to call me Kate.)



    If your question applies specifically to full time employees who work for only one family and share a home with them, then I would not be surprised to hear a more formal address (eg Mrs Gregory, or if I had a title perhaps Your Grace) simply to keep the distinction between friend/family/roomate and employee clear. Also certain occupations have a tendency to give their employees titles (eg nannies might call all the moms Mother, all the dads Father) -- these are occupations in which the employee is, to a certain extent, setting the rules of engagement. A pool boy would not do this. A tennis coach might.






    share|improve this answer




























      3














      People still employ cleaning ladies, dog-walkers, lawn-mowers, and snow shovelers; these are not full time servants who work only for this person, but they are household employees. In my experience in Canada the existence of an employer-employee relationship doesn't change what people call each other: an adult would call me Kate by default and a child might call me Mrs Gregory or Kate depending on their age and our existing relationship (eg neighbor children might have already been invited to call me Kate.)



      If your question applies specifically to full time employees who work for only one family and share a home with them, then I would not be surprised to hear a more formal address (eg Mrs Gregory, or if I had a title perhaps Your Grace) simply to keep the distinction between friend/family/roomate and employee clear. Also certain occupations have a tendency to give their employees titles (eg nannies might call all the moms Mother, all the dads Father) -- these are occupations in which the employee is, to a certain extent, setting the rules of engagement. A pool boy would not do this. A tennis coach might.






      share|improve this answer


























        3












        3








        3







        People still employ cleaning ladies, dog-walkers, lawn-mowers, and snow shovelers; these are not full time servants who work only for this person, but they are household employees. In my experience in Canada the existence of an employer-employee relationship doesn't change what people call each other: an adult would call me Kate by default and a child might call me Mrs Gregory or Kate depending on their age and our existing relationship (eg neighbor children might have already been invited to call me Kate.)



        If your question applies specifically to full time employees who work for only one family and share a home with them, then I would not be surprised to hear a more formal address (eg Mrs Gregory, or if I had a title perhaps Your Grace) simply to keep the distinction between friend/family/roomate and employee clear. Also certain occupations have a tendency to give their employees titles (eg nannies might call all the moms Mother, all the dads Father) -- these are occupations in which the employee is, to a certain extent, setting the rules of engagement. A pool boy would not do this. A tennis coach might.






        share|improve this answer













        People still employ cleaning ladies, dog-walkers, lawn-mowers, and snow shovelers; these are not full time servants who work only for this person, but they are household employees. In my experience in Canada the existence of an employer-employee relationship doesn't change what people call each other: an adult would call me Kate by default and a child might call me Mrs Gregory or Kate depending on their age and our existing relationship (eg neighbor children might have already been invited to call me Kate.)



        If your question applies specifically to full time employees who work for only one family and share a home with them, then I would not be surprised to hear a more formal address (eg Mrs Gregory, or if I had a title perhaps Your Grace) simply to keep the distinction between friend/family/roomate and employee clear. Also certain occupations have a tendency to give their employees titles (eg nannies might call all the moms Mother, all the dads Father) -- these are occupations in which the employee is, to a certain extent, setting the rules of engagement. A pool boy would not do this. A tennis coach might.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 days ago









        Kate GregoryKate Gregory

        8,88122643




        8,88122643

























            0














            I suppose knowledge of such matters depends heavily on the stratum in which one was brought up. First-hand experience counts.



            That said, I believe that a female employer older than 18 (or 21) would be addressed as



            Madam (or ma'am, if you will)



            while a younger individual would be



            Miss [ First Name, i.e. Mary, Jane, Gwendolyn, etc ]



            or



            Miss [ Surname, i.e. Johnson, Hamilton, Capet, etc ]






            share|improve this answer





















            • 3





              And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              2 days ago






            • 3





              Where would these forms of address be common?

              – 1006a
              2 days ago











            • @1006a In a townhouse.

              – Ricky
              yesterday
















            0














            I suppose knowledge of such matters depends heavily on the stratum in which one was brought up. First-hand experience counts.



            That said, I believe that a female employer older than 18 (or 21) would be addressed as



            Madam (or ma'am, if you will)



            while a younger individual would be



            Miss [ First Name, i.e. Mary, Jane, Gwendolyn, etc ]



            or



            Miss [ Surname, i.e. Johnson, Hamilton, Capet, etc ]






            share|improve this answer





















            • 3





              And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              2 days ago






            • 3





              Where would these forms of address be common?

              – 1006a
              2 days ago











            • @1006a In a townhouse.

              – Ricky
              yesterday














            0












            0








            0







            I suppose knowledge of such matters depends heavily on the stratum in which one was brought up. First-hand experience counts.



            That said, I believe that a female employer older than 18 (or 21) would be addressed as



            Madam (or ma'am, if you will)



            while a younger individual would be



            Miss [ First Name, i.e. Mary, Jane, Gwendolyn, etc ]



            or



            Miss [ Surname, i.e. Johnson, Hamilton, Capet, etc ]






            share|improve this answer















            I suppose knowledge of such matters depends heavily on the stratum in which one was brought up. First-hand experience counts.



            That said, I believe that a female employer older than 18 (or 21) would be addressed as



            Madam (or ma'am, if you will)



            while a younger individual would be



            Miss [ First Name, i.e. Mary, Jane, Gwendolyn, etc ]



            or



            Miss [ Surname, i.e. Johnson, Hamilton, Capet, etc ]







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 2 days ago









            Laurel

            31.8k660113




            31.8k660113










            answered 2 days ago









            RickyRicky

            14.4k53580




            14.4k53580








            • 3





              And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              2 days ago






            • 3





              Where would these forms of address be common?

              – 1006a
              2 days ago











            • @1006a In a townhouse.

              – Ricky
              yesterday














            • 3





              And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              2 days ago






            • 3





              Where would these forms of address be common?

              – 1006a
              2 days ago











            • @1006a In a townhouse.

              – Ricky
              yesterday








            3




            3





            And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

            – Janus Bahs Jacquet
            2 days ago





            And a married one might be Mrs [ Surname ].

            – Janus Bahs Jacquet
            2 days ago




            3




            3





            Where would these forms of address be common?

            – 1006a
            2 days ago





            Where would these forms of address be common?

            – 1006a
            2 days ago













            @1006a In a townhouse.

            – Ricky
            yesterday





            @1006a In a townhouse.

            – Ricky
            yesterday


















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