Plural of Dear Madam

[glasshouse]

I'm writing a formal letter to two ladies. Is the correct saluation Dear Madams or Dear Mesdames? Getting very confused. Thanks for your help.

do you not know their names?

I would use Dear Madams. I think that Mesdames is the original plural of "Mrs", so you might say in a speech "I should like to thank Mesdames Smith and Jones" or whatever, but you would probably still sound like pedant du jour for doing so.

However I do think Dear Madams sounds clunky and if at all possible it would be better to use their names, Dear Mrs Smith and Mrs Jones. If you don't know their names how will you address the envelope? I assume you have some slight knowledge of them as you know that there are definitely two of em.

Dear Mrs X and Mrs Y, as No19 says, if you know their names

Otherwise I would use Mesdames

"My Dear Ladies"?

Still sounds a bit strange, but a bit better than Madams.

Mesdames, sounds a bit poncy to me, for some reason!

Hmmm I am unsure now.

Bartleby (online) gives two plurals, madams and mesdames. However my actual Shorter OED (paper and ink) gives no plural for madam, and gives mesdames as a plural for madame.

Following the principle that good style doesn't draw attention to itself, "Dear Ladies" is my choice. It's the solution that will cause the fewest of the recipients to go "Eeewww! Give us a turn on the graahnd piaahno, why dontcha!"

I agree, I think Mesdames is correct but only a mad person would use it! I would use Dear ladies if no chance of discovering their names, or perhaps another word that refers to the role in which you are addressing them eg Dear Clients, Dear Members, Dear Service Users (ho ho not really) I sometimes used to use Dear Friends if context was app.

Madams sounds as if you are writing to a brothel!

Dear Ladies would be fine if you know the ladies personally, but maybe a bit casual if you don't.

But I would go for Mrs X and Mrs Y if you know their names - Mesdames is probably more correct, but a little bit stuffy.

Why don't you just start it with "Hi Y'all"?

Be casual.

"Hey, beetches," will do fine.

You've probably already sent the letter now, but you're being hilariously "over formal" for a modern letter. Will make you look like a bit of a dimwit who's trying to be all posh...

Dear Mrs X and Mrs Y would have been much better.

If anyone calls me Madam I take it as an insult!!

or

Ladies, I wanted to....

rather than dear?

Actually isn't the plural or sir and madam 'sirs'?

Darn it WT - I was about to return and post exactly that.

If anyone started a letter to me "Sirs", I would put it in the bin...

Unless they were telling me I'd won £1m, then I might read on...

Mesdames or abbreviate to Mmes.

I think "Dear Ladies" sounds awful! You wouldn't address a letter to one woman as "Dear Lady", would you. If you don't know their names then "Madams" would be best, or madlentileater's suggestion of a word describing their role.

I don't like "Dear Madams". It sounds like you are writing to a bunch of Cynthia Paynes.

Thanks for all your help. This was a letter by committee and I was over ruled in my wish to do Dear Mrs X and Mrs Y. They went for Mesdames in the end!

Bloody democracy eh?

Just start it "ello my luvverlies"