Miss / young lady
das Fräulein, die Fräulein
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Miss
An outdated term and form of address for an unmarried woman. Today, this term is generally considered inappropriate or derogatory.
In dem Brief von 1920 wird die unverheiratete Lehrerin als Fräulein Weber angesprochen.
In the letter from 1920, the unmarried teacher is addressed as Miss Weber.
Miss / waitress
An outdated term and form of address for a waitress.
Fräulein, bringen Sie uns bitte die Rechnung!
Miss, could you please bring us the bill?
young lady
A term for a girl or young woman, often used jokingly or as a stern, reproachful form of address.
Junges Fräulein, räum jetzt sofort dein Zimmer auf!
Young lady, clean your room right now!
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Fräulein |
| genitive | des Fräuleins |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Fräulein | die Fräulein die Fräuleins |
| accusative | das Fräulein | die Fräulein die Fräuleins |
| dative | dem Fräulein | den Fräulein den Fräuleins |
| genitive | des Fräuleins | der Fräulein der Fräuleins |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Fräulein' (Miss / young lady) historically developed from 'Frau' (woman) and the diminutive suffix '-lein'. The suffix explains why the word originally referred to a young or unmarried woman; its historical meaning makes its use today particularly dependent on context.
Im Roman aus dem 19. Jahrhundert wird das Fräulein im Haus freundlich begrüßt.
In the nineteenth-century novel, the young lady is greeted warmly in the house.
'Fräulein' (Miss / young lady) is now used mainly in historical texts, old-fashioned forms of address, or deliberately joking or reproachful situations. As a direct form of address for an adult woman, it may sound inappropriate.
Heute sagt kaum noch jemand „Fräulein“ zu einer erwachsenen Frau.
Today, hardly anyone still says 'Fräulein' (Miss) to an adult woman.
In the form of address 'Junges Fräulein' (young lady), the word often sounds stern, instructive, or joking. It is typically used by an older person toward a girl or young woman.
„Junges Fräulein, komm bitte sofort von der Straße!“ rief die Nachbarin.
'Young lady, come off the street right now!' the neighbor shouted.
