French word

dame

Pronunciation

IPA/dam/

Meaning

  • feminine nounwoman

Example

La dame est très gentille.

The woman is very kind.

Illustration for dame (woman)

More examples

Une dame âgée traverse la rue.

An elderly lady crosses the street.

Core concept

A woman viewed with courtesy in a social setting.

Common phrases

  • une dame

    a lady

  • une dame âgée

    an elderly lady

Similar words

femme: A general term for an adult woman.
madame: A polite form of address or title for a woman.
fille: A term for a child or young woman.
mademoiselle: A form of address for a young unmarried woman.

Definition in French

Terme désignant une femme, utilisé souvent comme formule polie ou titre de civilité (par exemple dans 'madame').

Word origin

French dame comes from Latin domina, the feminine form of dominus, through Old French dame.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English dame, French dame remains an ordinary polite noun and is not limited to an old-fashioned or theatrical register.

Other meanings

  • ladynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word