Although English speakers normally use first names far more often and more quickly than Germans, there are occasions where it’s better to stay with last names and titles.

With men this is easy.  There’s only one title and it’s Mr. However, with women it gets more complicated because there are three possibilities: Miss, Mrs. and Ms.

Use Miss for unmarried women.  Many Germans are hesitant to use Miss because it translates to Fräulein, which no German with any common sense would use with an adult woman. (For non-Germans reading this, the word Fräulein is reserved for little girls only.) However, Miss is used in English and some young, unmarried women prefer to be called by it.

Use Mrs. for married women only.  Again, some women prefer this title as it clearly shows they are married.

The title Ms. is used for married and unmarried women alike and is the equivalent of the German Frau. If you’re unsure of how to address a particular woman, you’re always safe using Ms.

In the English speaking world, Germans have a reputation for orderliness.  In fact, Germans commonly greet each other with the phrase, “Alles in Ordnung?”  (This literally means, “Is everything in order?”)

I’m always suprised, then, by how Germans never seem to form orderly lines (or queues as their called in Britain) at the bakery, at the bus stop, etc.

Germans also have no compunctions about cutting in front of others, too.  You’re waiting to tell the woman at the bakery what you would like?  Watch out for that little old lady sidling up beside you!  You might suddenly find her standing in front of you.  I used to think to myself, “Well, she’s old and just didn’t see me.”  However, this has happened so many times over the years that I’m now convinced otherwise!

While teaching an English class in Düsseldorf, I once had a student — a man who was originally from Chile — ask me why people from the United States called themselves Americans.

“I’m an American, too.  I’m from South America,” he went on to say.  “So are people from Brazil and Canada and Guatemala.  But people from the USA at the only ones who say that they’re Americans.”

He sat back, smiling.

I have to admit, it was something I’d never considered.  Was this another example of American arrogance?  There are millions of people living in North and South America, but we’ve seized the word American for ourselves?

Well…not really.  The problem is that there’s no alternative to American.

Let me explain:

People from Ireland are Irish.
People from Kenya are Kenyan.
People from Germany are German.
People from Brazil are Brazilian.
People from the United States are, uh, United Statsian???

See, it doesn’t exist!

I turned back to my student — my Chilean – ready to explain why Americans call themselves, well, Americans.  But first I asked him, “What do people from Chile call people from the United States?”

His smiled broadened and he said,  “Americano.”

He must have seen the exasperation on my face because he added quickly, “Or gringo if you prefer.”