What do you call strangers?

an9i77

Think the general consensus is 'excuse me'. My two year old would disagree though - he calls strangers 'lady' or 'man' and thinks nothing of saying 'hello lady/man' to people he's never met before. Think you can only get away with that when you're two though.

tayforth

Awwwww!!!!

Richard53

One of the things I love about France is the (to UK eyes) rather formal use of Monsieur and Madame to strangers. It makes things so easy! In Britain, we just don't have that facility. Sir and Madam are way too formal for most situations, although I would be happy to call an elderly gentleman 'Sir'.

As others have said, 'excuse me' is perfectly fine.

claire16c

Richard53 wrote: »

One of the things I love about France is the (to UK eyes) rather formal use of Monsieur and Madame to strangers. It makes things so easy! In Britain, we just don't have that facility. Sir and Madam are way too formal for most situations, although I would be happy to call an elderly gentleman 'Sir'.

As others have said, 'excuse me' is perfectly fine.

Yes same in the US, where they say Sir or Ma'am.

Here it's just excuse me, or my DH might say 'mate' if it was a man- although not an elderly one.

January20

aliasojo wrote: »

Max, January...can you phone me? I love hearing English spoken with a French accent.

I like hearing French spoken with a French accent too mind but I wouldn't understand much of that. :rotfl:

I also like the Geordie accent and the Irish accent (not the harsh one, the other one, don't actually know what region that is ).

I have a Scottish accent which I hate, it's too 'broad'.

Not that any of that is relevent to the OP mind. :rotfl:



I'm in the 'excuse me' camp....said louder each time I need to repeat it until the person looks round. Along with everyone else in the shop/on the bus.

Eventhough I'm a woman?

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

She might have picked up a bit of Geordie
I'm just trying to imagine a French accent mingled with Newcastle!

Give me your number and you can stop wondering :rotfl:

Seriously, I possibly have a bit of Geordie in the way I speak nowadays!

Richard53 wrote: »

One of the things I love about France is the (to UK eyes) rather formal use of Monsieur and Madame to strangers. It makes things so easy! In Britain, we just don't have that facility. Sir and Madam are way too formal for most situations, although I would be happy to call an elderly gentleman 'Sir'.

As others have said, 'excuse me' is perfectly fine.

Yes, some may say etiquette is stifling but it certainly gives you a safe framework to work with.

Richard53

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

I'm just trying to imagine a French accent mingled with Newcastle!

Do you remember Paul Whitehouse and his impression of an Italian manager of a Northern football club - Claudio Geordio?

I used to cry laughing at that, and came close to cardiac arrest several times.

qwerty79

Or if you are me. "Hey woman in the pink jumper whose dog has just taken a crap on my driveway, I have the photo. I suggest you turn around and pick it up NOW!"
It was very effective, got me her attention and that of several of my neighbours who all opened their doors too.