This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Seresin (talk | contribs) at 03:15, 28 November 2007 (Some template fixes; also a bold removal of images that don't enhance the topic, including a fair use). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 03:15, 28 November 2007 by Seresin (talk | contribs) (Some template fixes; also a bold removal of images that don't enhance the topic, including a fair use)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This article is about German word. For 1958 film, see Fräulein (film).In German, (German pronunciation: ) Fräulein (literally, "little woman" or "little Mrs.", pronounced /ˈfɹɔɪlaɪn/, colloquial form Frollein) is used as a title for young girls or unmarried women as opposed to Frau for married women. It is used with both the first name or the last name (Fräulein Anne)or Fräulein Schmidt). The term has fallen out of favor in some circles as a result of second wave feminism since "little" can seem condescending to women past school age. Today, the term is used mostly by elderly or socially convervative speakers. In fact, some elderly unmarried women may even consider it inappropriate to be addressed as Frau. Otherwise, it is considered appropriate to address all women as Frau (plus the last name).
Fräulein can be translated as Miss or Ms. in English; Signorina in Italian; Mademoiselle in French; Senhorita in Portuguese; Señorita in Spanish; Mejuffrouw in Dutch; Maighdeann(-uasal) in Scottish Gaelic; Gospođica in Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian and Ógbhean(-uasal) in Irish.
Usage in culture
Literature and film have depicted the usage very well, in some cases already in the title. Examples are E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale Das Fräulein von Scuderi (1819), Elizabeth von Arnim's epistolary novel Fräulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther (1907), and the comedy film Fräulein vom Amt (1954), whose title was a common phrase denoting a female operator at a telephone exchange. In an earlier comedy film, Unser Fräulein Doktor (1940), Jenny Jugo plays Dr. Elisabeth Hansen, a young attractive teacher at a gymnasium who has to fight to be taken seriously as an intellectual.
In English-language film, fräulein has been used as a tip-off word that the characters are actually speaking German. An example of this is The Sound of Music.
"Fräulein" is the title of a 1957 song by Bobby Helms.
"Fräulein" is also the title of a 1960s song sung in German by Chris Howland.
"Fräulein", #3, is also a member of the Arch Rival Roller Girls, a women's flat track roller derby league in St. Louis, Missouri.
The German pop star Fräulein Menke included the term "Fräulein" into her stage name. She was very successful in the early 1980s.