ma'am

/mɑːm/ (bre, ipa) · /mæm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmam after "yes" often əm/ (ame, mw)

ma'am — noun

1. a respectful word you call an adult woman when you do not know her name, especia

1.名詞B1
釋義

a respectful word you call an adult woman when you do not know her name, especially in shops, restaurants, or service settings

例句

Excuse me, ma'am, you dropped your scarf on the train platform.

vocative use to address an unknown woman politely

Would you like more coffee with your dessert, ma'am?

common server-to-customer phrasing in restaurants

同義詞
  • madam

    the full form; more formal and slightly more old-fashioned

  • miss

    used for women perceived as younger or unmarried

反義詞
  • sir

    the equivalent term used to address a man

文法句型

used directly to a woman, often at sentence start or end

用法筆記

Common in American English service contexts; in British English it often sounds odd or overly formal when used by ordinary speakers (compare senses 2 and 3, which are tightly tied to British official or historical settings).

常見錯誤

❌Excuse me, ma'am Rachid' (using ma'am with a personal name).
✅Excuse me, ma'am' or 'Excuse me, Mrs Rachid
💡ma'am stands alone, never before a name.

2. in Britain, the word people use when speaking directly to Queen Elizabeth, or to

2.名詞B2
釋義

in Britain, the word people use when speaking directly to Queen Elizabeth, or to a senior woman officer working in police forces or military units

例句

The young officer saluted and said, "Good morning, ma'am," as the Queen entered the hall.

addressing the British monarch

Sergeant Hoa nodded firmly: "Yes, ma'am, the report will be on your desk by noon."

addressing a senior female officer in police or military

同義詞
  • Your Majesty

    used for monarchs on first address; ma'am follows on later turns

  • madam

    the longer formal form; also acceptable in these contexts

反義詞
  • sir

    used for kings and male senior officers in the same way

文法句型

used directly to a female monarch or a high-ranking woman in uniformed services

用法筆記

British convention rhymes ma'am with 'jam' when addressing the Queen and with 'palm' when addressing senior officers; the choice signals which use it is. Distinguish from sense 1, which is everyday American service-counter use.

常見錯誤

❌Good morning, ma'am Daichi' (a junior officer using ma'am plus name).
✅Good morning, ma'am' or 'Good morning, Inspector Daichi
💡rank-plus-name and ma'am do not stack.

3. long ago, a word a servant or a person of lower social rank used when speaking t

3.名詞B2
釋義

long ago, a word a servant or a person of lower social rank used when speaking to a lady from a wealthy or noble family

例句

The young housemaid curtsied and whispered, "Your tea is ready, ma'am."

servant-to-lady use in a historical household

In the Victorian novel, the governess always addressed Lady Tamar as ma'am.

novel-set example showing social distance

同義詞
  • milady

    even more old-fashioned and class-marked; appears in romance and period fiction

  • madam

    the unabbreviated form; also used historically

反義詞
  • sir

    the equivalent term for a gentleman of higher rank

文法句型

used directly to a woman of a higher social rank, typically in novels or period drama set before the twentieth century

用法筆記

This sense is mostly encountered when reading older novels or watching period drama; do not use it in modern conversation. Distinguish from sense 1 (everyday polite address) and sense 2 (official British use to royalty or senior officers).

常見錯誤

❌I called my older sister ma'am to be funny' (mixing eras for jokes can read as rude).
✅Keep this sense for reading and writing about the past, not for live conversation today.