Mesdames is the plural form of the French address mesdame, meaning ‘ladies.’ In English, it is used chiefly in formal or theatrical contexts to refer to a group of women addressed as ‘Mesdames,’ often preceding a list of titles or as a pronoun stand-in. The pronunciation in English-adapted usage typically preserves French vowels and rhythm, yielding a soft, elongated final -mes sound.
Full pronunciation guide
