Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-the-definite-article-with-titles

French Grammar - Use of the definite article with titles

Titles in French prefaced by Monsieur or Madame include the definite article:

• Monsieur le Maire

Mr Mayor

• Madame le Maire

Madam Mayor

• Monsieur le Président-Directeur-Général

Mr Chairman

Such forms of address as: Monsieur le Directeur des Achats 'Mr Purchasing Director', Madame le Directeur du Personnel 'Madam Personnel Director' are frequent in French in writing (e.g. letters) or in very formal speeches, but almost unheard of in English.

The definite article is similarly present in French in greetings or expressions of encouragement like:

• Salut les gars!

Hi, guys!

• Allez les bleus!

Come on, you blues!

• Au lit, les enfants!

Off to bed, kids!

With kings and queens, however, French leaves out an article with numbers where English puts one in:

• François I (François premier)

François the first

• Henri III (Henri trois)

Henry the third

• Elizabeth I (Elizabeth première)

Elizabeth the first

• Elizabeth II (Elizabeth deux)

Elizabeth the second