ma'am
Respectful female title
Ma'am is a respectful form of address for a woman, contracted from madam.
It's standard in formal or service contexts: Yes, ma'am, Can I help you, ma'am?
In the American South, children often address adult women as ma'am regardless of formality.
British usage reserves it primarily for the Queen and other royal women.
Regard with honor
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
decorum · civility · propriety · dignity · manners · politeness · address · salutation
Generous treatment of guests
- charmAttractive personal quality
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
- gentilityRefined social standing
- drawlUnhurried, elongated speech pattern
belle · gracious · tradition · courtesy · politeness · respect · upbringing · proper
Authority figure in uniform
- superiorHigher in rank
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- saluteGestural sign of honor
- enlistedSigned up formally
drill · sergeant · captain · lieutenant · commander · subordinate · chain of command · protocol
Formal male address
mistress · milady · mademoiselle · master · officer · captain · sergeant · colonel
Buyer of goods
- patronRegular supporter or customer
- guestWelcomed visitor
- shopkeeperSmall store manager
- waiterOne who serves tables
waitress · attendant · clerk · concierge · bellhop · steward · hospitality · assistance
respect
Regard with honor
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
protocol · decorum · civility · propriety · dignity · manners · politeness · address · salutation · title
hospitality
Generous treatment of guests
drawl · belle · gracious · tradition · courtesy · politeness · respect · upbringing · proper · etiquette
officer
Authority figure in uniform
enlisted · drill · sergeant · captain · lieutenant · commander · subordinate · chain of command · protocol · address
sir
Formal male address
lord · mistress · milady · mademoiselle · master · officer · captain · sergeant · colonel · general
customer
Buyer of goods
- patronRegular supporter or customer
- guestWelcomed visitor
- shopkeeperSmall store manager
waiter · waitress · attendant · clerk · concierge · bellhop · steward · hospitality · assistance · retail
- forms of addresssir, miss, mister, Mr., Mrs.
- Southern hospitalitywarm welcome, welcome, friendliness, neighborliness, good neighbor
- SouthernSouthern belles, sweet tea, front porch, grits, y'all
- court etiquettecurtsy, genuflection, precedence, deference, royal audience
- military traditionssalute, 21-gun salute, saluting, salutes, honor guard
- Southern dialecty'all, fixin to, bless your heart, reckon, howdy
- yes ma'amFormal feminine affirmative
- no ma'amPolite negative to women
- wham bam thank you ma'am
- wham, bam, thank you ma'amRushed intimacy, abrupt exit