Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
mesdames, messieurs
English translation:
Dear Sir or Madam
Added to glossary by
Angel_7
May 4, 2007 10:42
17 yrs ago
28 viewers *
French term
mesdames, messieurs
Non-PRO
French to English
Bus/Financial
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
real estate loan
Do we use sirs/madams in English? I haven't heard of it.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | Dear Sir or Madam |
Delphine Joly
|
| 4 +4 | Ladies and gentlemen |
GillW (MCIL)
|
| 4 +3 | dear sir/madam |
Aisha Maniar
|
| 5 | Ladies and Gentlemen a priori |
John ANTHONY
|
| 4 | Mmes., Mssrs. (salutations) |
RHELLER
|
Change log
May 4, 2007 11:03: writeaway changed "Field (specific)" from "Law: Contract(s)" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"
Proposed translations
+1
2 hrs
Delphine Joly
Native in French
Works in field
also an English teacher
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English
Selected
Dear Sir or Madam
Commercial letters
"Dear Sirs" à une entreprise
"Dear Sir" à un homme
"Dear Madam" à une femme
"Dear Sir or Madam" à une personne que l'on ne connait pas
That's according to the dictionnary and what one should use !
Therefore I would definitely write "Dear Sir or Madam" . Don't forget OR.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-05-04 12:58:57 GMT)
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Robert and Collins dictionnary...
"Dear Sirs" à une entreprise
"Dear Sir" à un homme
"Dear Madam" à une femme
"Dear Sir or Madam" à une personne que l'on ne connait pas
That's according to the dictionnary and what one should use !
Therefore I would definitely write "Dear Sir or Madam" . Don't forget OR.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-05-04 12:58:57 GMT)
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Robert and Collins dictionnary...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+3
12 mins
Aisha Maniar
Native in English
Works in field
French/Arabic-English legal translator
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK) 
Works in: Arabic to English, French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
dear sir/madam
beyond comment
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Mark Solomon
: this is the correct version for a letter
44 mins
|
|
thank you
|
|
| agree |
Trudy Peters
: Yes, in a letter. But all words capitalized.
45 mins
|
|
yes, indeed, thanks
|
|
| agree |
Enza Longo
2 hrs
|
|
thank you
|
|
| neutral |
Claire Chapman
: I hate posting a disagree so I'll make it a neutral. I would never, ever, write Dear Sir/Madame. The correct form would be Dear Sir or Madame.
4 hrs
|
|
maybe you wouldn't but that's your personal opinion and stylistic choice. I also would not use "madame" in addressing someone in a letter.
|
+4
24 mins
GillW (MCIL)
Native in English
Specializes in field
All matters financial
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English
Ladies and gentlemen
depends if this is to address a group of people or is in a written document
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jennifer White
: An odd question at this level
11 mins
|
| agree |
BrigitteHilgner
: I would assume that this is a verbal address ... but you never know.
20 mins
|
| neutral |
Sandra Petch
: The heading says this is for a letter. / My apologies, "letters" is part of the standard heading.
24 mins
|
| neutral |
Delphine Joly
: this would be used for the heading of a letter
1 hr
|
| agree |
Assimina Vavoula
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Claire Chapman
: Dear Ladies and Gentlemen also works for a letter.
4 hrs
|
41 mins
John ANTHONY
France
France
Native in French
&
English
Specializes in field
France
EN-FR-EN BY BIRTH - 45 YEARS IN FRANCE
Native in: English , French
Works in: English to French, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Ladies and Gentlemen a priori
As already mentioned, one would use "Ladies and Gentlemen" when addressing an audience. However, it is quite traditional in this country to address someone in a letter as "Dear Mr ...." or "Dear Mrs....", "Miss....." or "Ms.......", adding the name of the addressee.
Also, when it is about summonning and AGM fo instance, one would write: "Dear shareholder(s)" ...
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-05-04 12:44:39 GMT)
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Certainly not "Sirs/Madams...". In the context, I would use "Ladies and Gentlemen"
Also, when it is about summonning and AGM fo instance, one would write: "Dear shareholder(s)" ...
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-05-04 12:44:39 GMT)
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Certainly not "Sirs/Madams...". In the context, I would use "Ladies and Gentlemen"
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Delphine Joly
: as you wrote, traditionally... This is written English not oral English (as ladies and gentlemen...)
1 hr
|
3 hrs
Mmes., Mssrs. (salutations)
This is the correct title for two or more men addressed together. It is an acceptable abbreviation in the salutation, but is generally not used in the inside address or on the envelope.
Dear Messrs. Bernstein and Bahr:. On behalf of the law firm of Greenblum and Bernstein, P.L.C., I would like to thank you and your colleagues at the PTO for ...
www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/opla/comments/fr53772/b4...
Dear Messrs. Bernstein and Bahr:. On behalf of the law firm of Greenblum and Bernstein, P.L.C., I would like to thank you and your colleagues at the PTO for ...
www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/opla/comments/fr53772/b4...
Reference:
Discussion
This is at the start of the loan contract
I obviously know about Sir/Madam. The query was whether there it was ok to use Sirs/Madams or is there some other formal address used in this context.
:
Mesdames/Messieurs
Nous avons le plaisir de vous faire la présente offre de prêt (le « Prêt ») qui est soumise aux conditions générales de la Banque, aux conditions particulières suivantes, ainsi qu’aux conditions spéciales de prêt annexées à la présente.