fräulein

noun

fräu·lein ˈfrȯi-ˌlīn

1

capitalized : an unmarried German woman

—used as a title equivalent to Miss

2

: a German governess

Word History

Etymology

German, diminutive of Frau

First Known Use

circa 1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of fräulein was circa 1689

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

fraught with

fräulein

Fraunhofer

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fräulein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fr%C3%A4ulein. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

spontaneous

Listen to the pronunciation of spontaneous

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)