Always 'Frau,' never 'Fräulein' (RANT)

First the educational part, and then the rant.

Here is the educational part: I have no idea why this information isn't widespread in the US, but decades ago, DECADES, Germans stopped using the word Fräulein. It's inappropriate and impolite to use it.

Educational part done.

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts published between August 1, 2021 and October 1, 2024. Viel Spaß beim Hören!

Now the rant:

It's never Fräulein, only ever Frau.

The word Fräulein, as in Fräulein Maria, is not used any more. The movie The Sound of Music was set in the year 1938. It is now 2024. German has changed a bit since 1938, not as dramatically as North American English has, however German has changed. Women are not addressed by the word Fräulein.

It's not funny to use it, it's sexist, and using that word displays your ignorance. In Germany there is no differentiation between unmarried and married women, and in that aspect, as well as several other major aspects, Germany is much, much further than the US. It is also only used with a woman's last name, thus it is only ever “Frau Warner,” “Frau Miller,” “Frau Giessen.”

So do yourself a favor, save yourself the complete embarrassment, and take the word Fräulein completely out of your vocabulary. That word belongs in 1938, not in 2024.

Remember: it's only ever Frau.

Frau. Frau. Frau.