What do you call strangers?

lostinrates

I say excuse me too, but I do also use Sir or ma'am. I don't feel uncomfortable using them which I think makes a huge difference, and I don't necessarily use them deferentially, though I might do. I use them JUST as I would Monsieur/ Madame really. . less frequently though. I also use 'one' more than the average English speaker because it's so comfortable and useful!

jedsonack2

Normally use, "Mike" or "Man" for lady "Lady" or "Elle".

*Robin*

balletshoes wrote: »

The OP isn't a man .

Oops - sorry!

..But even less for OP to worry about; add femininity to French charm and it really doesn't matter what she actually says!

DigForVictory

Yet another vote for "Excuse me!"
That said, since Madame/Mademoiselle has more options, than us somewhat monolingual souls, M'sieur, Madame, mam'selle & teeshoo ("'t!t chou" IIRC) are also all on the table.
If you and the other party are in a hurry, yell almost anything you like, *then* explain to the startled faces...

*max*

Thanks all! I guess I have to relax a bit and stop thinking I'm going to offend if I don't use Sir or Madame! No matter how long you've been in a country, your "foreign" upbringing never really leaves you I suppose!

lostinrates

*max* wrote: »

Thanks all! I guess I have to relax a bit and stop thinking I'm going to offend if I don't use Sir or Madame! No matter how long you've been in a country, your "foreign" upbringing never really leaves you I suppose!

Fwiw, DH ( Italian) used to say it wasn't my accent that let me down that's ok, or my vocabulary, which though random sounds poetic, nor even my dodgy grammar......its my incessant need to say 'please' and 'thank you' and excuse me but worst of all' sorry' where an Italian just would not.:D

Stephb1986_2

I usually say excuse me

Alchemilla

I would say "sir" for a male but i dont have a comfortable way of addressing a female.

**professor~yaffle**

We don't really have titles for strangers here. In America I think they say Sir and Ma'am, but Sir sounds overly polite for us Brits, if it's just an ordinary day-to-day situation.

Sometimes, like when when someone leaves their cashcard in the machine, I'll just shout out Excuse Me! Men will often say 'Ere, Mate (or something like it!)

MandM90

I just use excuse me!

fluffnutter wrote: »

Wouldn't you know if they were your mother/grandmother/grandad? Odd.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: