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Monsieur vs. Sir — What's the Difference?

Monsieur vs. Sir — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Monsieur and Sir

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Monsieur

Monsieur ( mə-SYUR; French: [məsjø] (listen); pl. Messieurs MESS-ərz, may-SYUR(Z); French: [mesjø] (listen); 1512, from Middle French mon sieur, literally "my lord") is an honorific title that was used to refer to or address the eldest living brother of the king in the French royal court.

Sir

Sir is a formal English honourific address for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Traditionally, as governed by law and custom, "Sir" is used for men titled as knights, i.e., of orders of chivalry, and later also applied to baronets and other offices.

Monsieur

Abbr. M Used as a courtesy title before the surname, full name, or professional title of a man in a French-speaking area
Monsieur Cartier.
Monsieur Jacques Cartier.

Sir

Sir Used as an honorific before the given name or the full name of baronets and knights.

Monsieur

Monsieur Used as a form of polite address for a man in a French-speaking area.
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Sir

Used as a form of polite address for a man
Don't forget your hat, sir.

Monsieur

(dated) A man, especially a French gentleman.

Sir

Used as a salutation in a letter
Dear Sir or Madam.

Monsieur

The common title of civility in France in speaking to, or of, a man; Mr. or Sir.

Sir

A man of a higher rank or position.

Monsieur

The oldest brother of the king of France.

Sir

A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position, particularly:

Monsieur

A Frenchman.

Sir

To a knight or other low member of the peerage.
Just be careful. He gets whingy now if you don't address him as Sir John.

Monsieur

Used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English `Mr'

Sir

To a superior military officer.
Sir, yes sir.

Sir

To a teacher.
Here's my report, sir.

Sir

A respectful term of address to an adult male (often older), especially if his name or proper title is unknown.
Excuse me, sir, do you know the way to the art museum?

Sir

To address (someone) using "sir".
Sir, yes, sir!
Don't you sir me, private! I work for a living!

Sir

A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; - in this sense usually spelled sire.
He was crowned lord and sire.
In the election of a sir so rare.

Sir

A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet.
Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in the active part.

Sir

An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; - formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy.
Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's word.

Sir

A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; - used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality.

Sir

Term of address for a man

Sir

A title used before the name of knight or baronet

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