mademoiselle
mad-mua-SEL
📝 In Action
Nuestra mademoiselle nos enseñó una canción en francés hoy.
B1Our (French) teacher taught us a song in French today.
La mademoiselle que conocimos en París era muy amable.
B2The young lady we met in Paris was very kind.
Buenos días, mademoiselle, ¿cómo está usted?
A2Good morning, Miss, how are you?
💡 Grammar Points
A Word on Loan
This word is a 'loanword,' meaning Spanish borrowed it directly from French. It doesn't change its spelling to fit Spanish rules.
Always Feminine
Since it refers to a girl or woman, always use feminine words like 'la' or 'una' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Languages
Mistake: "Using 'mademoiselle' for a Spanish-speaking teacher."
Correction: Use 'señorita' or 'profe' instead.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Teacher' Connection
In many Spanish-speaking countries, students call their French teacher 'mademoiselle' as a sign of affection and tradition.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mademoiselle
Question 1 of 1
If you are in a Spanish-speaking country and you call someone 'mademoiselle,' who are you likely talking to?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mademoiselle' considered a Spanish word?
Not natively. It is a French word that is recognized and used by Spanish speakers in specific contexts, like French class or when discussing French culture.
How do you pluralize it in Spanish?
Most people simply add an 's' (mademoiselles) when speaking Spanish, though the correct French plural is 'mesdemoiselles'.