Introductions and Titles

The Formality Spectrum

French introductions calibrate formality to context. A house party introduction differs vastly from a business meeting, yet both follow predictable patterns.

Formal Introduction Elements: - Full name (sometimes with Monsieur/Madame) - Brief context ("This is Marie, she works in our Lyon office") - Appropriate greeting (handshake or bise) - Exchange of "Enchanté(e)"

Casual Introduction Elements: - First name only - Minimal context - Immediate bise (usually) - "Salut" or just "Ça va?"

Titles and Respect

Using titles correctly shows cultural fluency:

- Monsieur/Madame: Always safe, especially with strangers - Mademoiselle: Largely obsolete; use Madame regardless of age/marital status - Professional titles: Docteur, Professeur, Maître (for lawyers) when relevant - First names: Only after invitation or clear social cues

Cultural Context Box: The Death of Mademoiselle

In 2012, France officially retired "Mademoiselle" from administrative forms, recognizing it as sexist to define women by marital status while men are simply "Monsieur." However, some older people still use it. When in doubt, "Madame" is always appropriate for adult women.