A high quality storybook illustration of a distinguished adult man wearing a formal black suit, a white shirt, and a bow tie, standing politely.

monsieur

mon-siúr

nounmB2

Mr.?French title of respect,Sir?Formal address in French

Also:gentleman?Often used ironically or to describe a refined, usually French, man

📝 In Action

El famoso 'monsieur' de la novela llegó tarde a la cita.

The famous 'Mr.' from the novel arrived late for the appointment.

Disculpe, monsieur, ¿sabe dónde está la embajada?

Excuse me, sir (French), do you know where the embassy is?

Se comporta como un verdadero monsieur, siempre con guantes y sombrero.

He behaves like a true gentleman (French style), always with gloves and a hat.

Word Connections

Synonyms

señor (Mr./Sir)
caballero (gentleman)

Common Collocations

el monsieur francés – the French gentleman

💡 Grammar Points

A Borrowed Word

Since 'monsieur' is a direct borrowing from French, it doesn't change its form in Spanish (it's invariable). You only use 'el' or 'un' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it as a Standard Title

Mistake: "Using 'monsieur' instead of 'señor' when addressing a Spanish speaker."

Correction: Only use 'monsieur' when referring specifically to a French person or in a literary context. Use 'Señor' for everyone else.

⭐ Usage Tips

When to Use It

Use this word when you want to specifically identify someone as French, or to evoke a certain European elegance or historical setting.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: monsieur

Question 1 of 1

In standard Spanish conversation, which word should you use to address an unknown man?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

madame(Mrs./Madam (French)) - noun

mademoiselle(Miss (French)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'monsieur' used often in Spain or Latin America?

Not often. It's usually only used when speaking about French culture, historical figures, or sometimes humorously. Spanish speakers overwhelmingly prefer 'señor'.