Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Sehr verehrte Frau Außenministerin
English translation:
Dear Madam Secretary
Added to glossary by
Jonathan MacKerron
Apr 24, 2007 09:59
17 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Sehr verehrte Frau Außenministerin
German to English
Social Sciences
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
greeting in a letter
Proposed translations
(English)
| 2 +10 | Dear Madam Secretary |
Francis Lee (X)
|
| 4 +1 | Dear Minister |
Jan Liebelt
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Proposed translations
+10
9 mins
Selected
Dear Madam Secretary
Depends on the context ...
Example (a protest letter, not a greeting, but it's the form of address that counts):
http://www.afsa.org/afsa-protest-letter.cfm
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Note added at 24 mins (2007-04-24 10:24:51 GMT)
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It's an interesting point. You wouldn't say "dear mister secretary", but (like it or not) I think etiquette still expects female dignitaries to be adressed as above.
Likewise, "dear madam chairman" gets far more Google hits than "dear mister chairman" ...
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Note added at 27 mins (2007-04-24 10:27:37 GMT)
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And surely US congressmen know the proper form of address for their beloved Condi:
http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny05_ackerman/PR_070221.html
Example (a protest letter, not a greeting, but it's the form of address that counts):
http://www.afsa.org/afsa-protest-letter.cfm
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Note added at 24 mins (2007-04-24 10:24:51 GMT)
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It's an interesting point. You wouldn't say "dear mister secretary", but (like it or not) I think etiquette still expects female dignitaries to be adressed as above.
Likewise, "dear madam chairman" gets far more Google hits than "dear mister chairman" ...
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Note added at 27 mins (2007-04-24 10:27:37 GMT)
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And surely US congressmen know the proper form of address for their beloved Condi:
http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny05_ackerman/PR_070221.html
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Craig Meulen
: A good reference, and a quick Google search seems to confirm Francis' advice (not that I don't trust you, of course ;-) ) http://tinyurl.com/yww6do
5 mins
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Thanks, Craig. I thought Hansa were unlucky last night. ;-(
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| agree |
Lancashireman
24 mins
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| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: couldn't you omit the madam? - Dear Sec. of State
56 mins
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Personally, I'd call Ms. Rice something altogether different (i.e. unprintable), but as I said above: this does appear to be the standard form of address.
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| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
1 hr
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| agree |
Tanya Zehnpfund
: Use 'Dear Madam Secretary' (the link incl. by F. Lee is very convincing, even though it may sound strange. Here is another one: http://www.aacpl.net/bestsites/recommended/government_foa.ht...
1 hr
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| agree |
David Seycek
: ...particularly with Francis’ response to Cilian’s agree!
2 hrs
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She sure ain't a lady ...
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| agree |
Lori Dendy-Molz
: Yes, in formal address, we stick with stodgy tradition. 'Madam Secretary,' 'Madam Speaker' and 'Madam President' are all apropos. We yanks do in fact say 'Dear Mr. Secretary' - google and believe.
2 hrs
|
| agree |
conny
4 hrs
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| agree |
Julia Lipeles
4 hrs
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| agree |
Wilhelm Deutsch
: Dear Madam Secretary that is rite and that's American. Dr. Rice deserves some respect.Her family originally come from Jamaica, just like the former Secretary Colin Powell's does.In the USA some black people can go places.Eat your heart out .
3 days 18 hrs
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You're being sarcastic, right? I hope so, at least ...
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks"
+1
3 mins
Jan Liebelt
France
France
Native in English
Works in field
France
Your ideas, our languages
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English
Dear Minister
See link
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Note added at 4 mins (2007-04-24 10:04:41 GMT)
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Also see the previous discussion: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1068349 (it depends where!)
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Note added at 13 mins (2007-04-24 10:13:29 GMT)
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If it's Condi, why not "Dear Condi", then? ;-)
Seriously, I think it should then be "Dear Secretary" (since she is the Secretary of State)
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Note added at 16 mins (2007-04-24 10:16:15 GMT)
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Even better, "Dear Secretary Rice":
www.cmep.org/Alerts/2005Dec2.htm
www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002441.php
traubman.igc.org/govtletter05.doc (etc.)
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Note added at 4 mins (2007-04-24 10:04:41 GMT)
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Also see the previous discussion: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1068349 (it depends where!)
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Note added at 13 mins (2007-04-24 10:13:29 GMT)
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If it's Condi, why not "Dear Condi", then? ;-)
Seriously, I think it should then be "Dear Secretary" (since she is the Secretary of State)
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Note added at 16 mins (2007-04-24 10:16:15 GMT)
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Even better, "Dear Secretary Rice":
www.cmep.org/Alerts/2005Dec2.htm
www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002441.php
traubman.igc.org/govtletter05.doc (etc.)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Armorel Young
8 mins
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| neutral |
Craig Meulen
: wrong for US context, would be fine for UK// later comments weren't showing when I disagreed!
12 mins
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It wasn'T clear from the start that we were talking about the US (see my later suggestions)
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Discussion