Native German speakers: Is the use of "Fräulein" considered rude or outdated?

Answer 1

I disagree with both answerers.
These are the only situations in which I ever hear "Fräulein" nowadays:

1) Older people* calling a waitress - I must admit, that it would be very useful if we could use "Herr" or "Frau" in the same way, standing on its own without a surname, to call a person. The French have "Monsieur!", "Madame!" and "Mademoiselle!" to get any stranger's attention. Fräulein is the only one that works like that in German.

*younger people would probably more often say "Entschuligen Sie...!" "Zahlen bitte! (in a restaurant)" (or probably hey! :) )

2) A parent, teacher, friend ... scolding someone, usually half jokingly and usually a teenager: "Junges Fräulein, wo bleiben die Manieren!?"

In forms of any kind, the option to select "Fräulein" has long disappeared (I would guess at least 15 years ago).

I would definitely notice if someone called me Fräulein (ie it is not common or normal), and would only make allowances for older gentlemen, who obviously mean it in a nice way. Otherwise it would sound outdated and condescending!

Answer 2

"Capitalism is about more than just money..." That is the most laughable thing I have ever read. You focus on the right-wing whine about "taking from someone else," and that perception is the very problem. I don't view it as taking from me. I *give* it by means of voting as I see fit and because I believe in the moral obligation to help those in need. Government, which is inherently designed to provide for the needs of its citizenry, is the structure that is best designed to accomplish that. Government is not an alien entity thrust upon us by the reptilians of Zeta Andromeda. WE are the government, we vote, and the will of the people is, over time, enacted. If you don't like the way it's going, then why don't you get involved? Run for an office. Become a city councilor. Historically, charities have done tremendous work, yet do not have the broad impact necessary to affect an entire citizenry. I can't look at a homeless person and say "well, that's unfortunate, but..." In fact, to do that strikes me as downright evil. If you feel so strongly that you're being wronged, perhaps you should look for somewhere you'd be happier?

Answer 3

There has always been a difference between the English Miss/Mrs. versus the German Fraeulein/Frau. Fraeulein has always meant young (as opposed to unmarried) woman. A German speaker would not have called a 50-year-old unmarried person "Fraeulein" 50 years ago, but an American would have called her "Miss".

I think one reason for Fraeulein becoming less used (or not used at all) in a professional context is the influence of English. People writing in English didn't get it that, in German, a mature woman would always be called "Frau", it had nothing to do with marital status unless the speaker wanted to be mean (calling someone "altes Fraeulein" like the English "old maid").

So it makes sense that once Americans (maybe Brits also, I'm not sure) switched to "Ms." as a professional form of address, German speakers began to use "Frau" as a uniform form of address in work environments.

I hope this background is useful. I'm not sure exactly what the percentages are today in Germany and Austria, but I do know the use has changed.

P.S.: The asker is so much better at the "ae" than I am. Used to be able to do it on my Mac. Clueless on Windows Vista.

Answer 4

Yes, it's outdated and can even be regarded as offending. Fräulein meant an unmarried woman regardless her age - although common use was not to use it with an older unmarried person.

Why offending? Fräulein is a diminutive (small,little woman) giving the expression that only a married woman is a real woman while an unmarried one still lacks something to be complete.
So always address women as Frau when you are not at first name basis with her. It's a must in formal letters.

The older generation sees it differently I know.

"Fräulein" is still used for calling a waitress (if you don't know her name) but should be avoided as well.

Answer 5

You guys are kidding...right? Use an online dictionary to discover how many ways you can express what the female gender represents in German compared with English: Frau, Fräulein, Weib (and their derivatives), compared to woman, female, feminine, miss, wife, Ms, Mrs., Miss (and their derivatives).

I grew up in central Germany, albeit some time ago, and speak native German. When you have only three base options, you lose significant nuance by eliminating one of the options, especially so since "Weib" is not really acceptable in polite conversation, except for its derivative "weiblich" (feminine or female, depending on context). "Fräulein" is alive and well throughout German-speaking cultures, except in the radical feminazi elements, who bully in Germany like they do everywhere else.

Answer 6

German Fraulein

Answer 7

native german speakers frulein considered rude outdated

Answer 8

No, it is nut rude at all. The difference between "Fräulein" and "Frau" literally was that a unmarried woman was named "Fräulein" and a married one was a "Frau" - similar to Ms and Mrs in English language.
Normally a "Fräulein" therefore was a young lady, but as more and more couples do not mary anymore there would be many old "Fräulein" - and on the other hand if you call somebody an "old Fräulein" that means she could not find any husband. That is why in official letters the expression "Fräulein" is no longer used and generally changed to "Frau".
In everyday's life we use "Fräulein" for young girls and teenagers, that's quite okay. Many ladies in the 20ies and 30ies understand "Fräulein" as a compliment expressing they still look very young.
From the meaning of the word a "Fräulein" is a little "Frau". The endings "...lein" and "...chen" express a small form in German, e.g. a "Häuslein" is a very small house, a "Männchen" is a small man (however, the expression "Männchen" is definitely rude...).
Strange language, but thats how it is...

Answer 9

I grew up in Northern Germany and there too the use of "Fräulein" is considered rude and outdated.

A guy I knew obviously didn't know that. He sent a letter to a woman and put "Fräulein" in front of her name on the address label. She never opened the letter, just send it straight back. And she wrote "Männlein" in front of his name on the address label.

I think that pretty much says it all. Women usually don't like to be called "little woman" anymore, just as men probably don't want to be called "little man". ;)

Answer 10

Fraulein Meaning