Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Exzellenz, Madame,
English translation:
Sir, Madam,/Your Excellency, Madame/Excellency
Added to glossary by
Hilary Davies Shelby
Jun 10, 2005 14:10
19 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term
United States
German and "Geek" to English!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English
Exzellenz, Madame,
German to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
letter to ambassador and wife
Hello all,
This is a letter addressed to an ambassador (it's a form letter, for foreign ambassadors in general, so no specific country involved here) and his wife. How do I address them both in a letter in English?
Many thanks!
Hilary.
This is a letter addressed to an ambassador (it's a form letter, for foreign ambassadors in general, so no specific country involved here) and his wife. How do I address them both in a letter in English?
Many thanks!
Hilary.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | Sir, Madam, |
Louise Gough
|
| 5 +1 | Dear Mr. Ambassador, Dear Mrs. ... |
silfilla
|
| 4 +2 | Ambassador, foreign |
Frosty
|
| 4 +1 | His Excellency (name) and Mrs (name) |
David Moore (X)
|
| 4 | Eure Exzellenz, Frau ... |
Stephen Sadie
|
Proposed translations
+1
30 mins
Selected
Sir, Madam,
Not sure about this, but it's based on the info at http://www.debretts.co.uk/etiquette/correct_forms_of_address...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
: This is the guide to follow for BE usage and if anyone gets upset later it's a safe reference.
3 days 17 hrs
|
|
Thanks.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "These could all be right! I used this one and sent the client a note referring to Webster's and Frosty's notes and pointing out the differing opinions/styles. Thanks very much, all!"
11 mins
Stephen Sadie
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
Practical business experience, reliable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
48
Eure Exzellenz, Frau ...
I did something similar recently and now hope I was right!
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Note added at 25 mins (2005-06-10 14:36:10 GMT)
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and i gave it to you in german by mistake!, david is right!
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Note added at 25 mins (2005-06-10 14:36:10 GMT)
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and i gave it to you in german by mistake!, david is right!
+1
12 mins
His Excellency (name) and Mrs (name)
appears to be the way The Times publishes these in its Court Circular.
See:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,61-1099483_2,00.html
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Note added at 28 mins (2005-06-10 14:39:18 GMT)
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Clear, silfilla is right; it would be \"Your Excellency, Madam\" in the letter itself, I think
See:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,61-1099483_2,00.html
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Note added at 28 mins (2005-06-10 14:39:18 GMT)
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Clear, silfilla is right; it would be \"Your Excellency, Madam\" in the letter itself, I think
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Stephen Sadie
: can do both, slight preference for silfilla's solution
13 mins
|
| neutral |
Francis Lee (X)
: I think "Your Excellency ..." would be the right option for an address/speech, but not for a letter / Yes, that's how The Times REFERS to them, but ...
1 hr
|
| neutral |
silfilla
: with Francis
1 hr
|
| neutral |
Raghunathan Rajagopalan
: with Francis and Sifilla
9 hrs
|
+1
29 mins
silfilla
Works in field
Dear Mr. Ambassador, Dear Mrs. ...
according to Webster's!
The ambassdor alone would be addressed as *Excellency:* in a letter.
in a general reference invitation: *His/Her Excellency, NAME, Ambassador of ...*
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Note added at 43 mins (2005-06-10 14:54:08 GMT)
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or, of course:
Dear Mrs. Ambassador, Dear Mr. ...
The ambassdor alone would be addressed as *Excellency:* in a letter.
in a general reference invitation: *His/Her Excellency, NAME, Ambassador of ...*
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Note added at 43 mins (2005-06-10 14:54:08 GMT)
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or, of course:
Dear Mrs. Ambassador, Dear Mr. ...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Francis Lee (X)
45 mins
|
|
thanks, Francis
|
+2
1 hr
Ambassador, foreign
According to Chambers Office Oracle:
Address on envelope: "His/Her Excellency the Ambassador of ..." or "His/Her Excellency the Ambassador". The wife of an Ambassador is not entitled to the style `Her Excellency´.
Begin: "Your Excellency", refer to as "Your Excellency" once, thereafter as "you".
Close: "I have the honour to be, Sir/Madam (or, according to rank), Your Excellency`s obedient servant".
Spoken address: "Your Excellency" at least once, thereafter "Sir" or Madam", or by name.
Is that obsequious enough?
Address on envelope: "His/Her Excellency the Ambassador of ..." or "His/Her Excellency the Ambassador". The wife of an Ambassador is not entitled to the style `Her Excellency´.
Begin: "Your Excellency", refer to as "Your Excellency" once, thereafter as "you".
Close: "I have the honour to be, Sir/Madam (or, according to rank), Your Excellency`s obedient servant".
Spoken address: "Your Excellency" at least once, thereafter "Sir" or Madam", or by name.
Is that obsequious enough?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Dr.G.MD (X)
28 mins
|
|
Thankyou, Gerhard
|
|
| agree |
Lancashireman
: It is
2 hrs
|
|
Thankyou, Andrew
|
Discussion
BTW, is this a covering letter for a brocure on shower cabinets? :-)