Mlle.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Title and Honorific

Mlle.
Stands forMademoiselle
CategoriesWriting & Everyday

Mlle. stands for Mademoiselle, a title and honorific abbreviation.

Equivalent of Miss in French, used for an unmarried woman or girl. English texts use it chiefly for historical figures and in translations.

Example: The ballet's premiere starred Mlle. Taglioni, whose pointe work dazzled the Paris audience.

Usage notes

French style omits the period (Mlle). Following feminist campaigns, France dropped Mademoiselle from official administrative forms in 2012, so most adult women are now addressed as Madame. The plural is Mlles. In English the title survives mainly in historical writing, fashion and ballet.

More title and honorific abbreviations

  • Kt. – Knight
  • Lt. Gov. – Lieutenant Governor
  • M. – Monsieur
  • M/s – Messrs. (used before a firm's name)
  • MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire
  • Messrs. – Messieurs (plural of Mr.)
  • Mme. – Madame
  • Mmes. – Mesdames (plural of Mrs. or Madame)
  • Mr. – Mister
  • Mrs. – Missus (originally Mistress)
  • Ms. – Ms. (title for a woman regardless of marital status)
  • Mx. – Mx. (gender-neutral courtesy title)

See all 54 title and honorific abbreviations →