New here? This is lesson 56 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Sir and ma'am in English
Ana needs polite words for shop staff and older people. Use sir to address a man politely, often someone you do not know. Ma'am is for a woman. It is safer than Miss.
Mr. Kowalski still calls Ana Miss. Dee calls everyone hon, but that word is hers. You do not say hon.
At the drugstore, Ana tries sir and ma'am. The clerk just says hey.
By the end of this lesson
Address shop staff, older people, and strangers politely with sir and ma'am.
- Excuse me, sir.a polite way to address a man
- Excuse me, ma'am.a polite hello to a woman you do not know
- Hey there.a casual hello to someone nearby
- Can I help you, ma'am?you offer help to a woman politely
- After you.Please go first
- Thank you, sir.polite thanks to a man
Scene — the drugstore door
Same block in Logan Square, across from the Blue Plate. Ana pushes the drugstore door. Mr. Kowalski is already there, keys in one hand.
The clerk waits at the counter. A bell hangs on the door. Across the street, the jukebox inside the diner stays quiet.
Learn — sir and ma'am
Six short lines cover sir, ma'am, a casual hey, and After you.
You'll also thank a man politely, and you'll offer help to a woman.
Excuse me, sir.
a polite way to address a man
When to use it: Say this to get a man's attention politely.
Learn it as one piece for polite words to a man.
Excuse me, ma'am.
a polite hello to a woman you do not know
When to use it: Say this to get a woman's attention politely.
Learn it as one piece for a woman you do not know.
Hey there.
a casual hello to someone nearby
When to use it: Say this as a casual hello to someone near you.
Learn it as one piece, a casual hello nearby.
Can I help you, ma'am?
you offer help to a woman politely
When to use it: Say this to offer help to a woman you do not know.
Learn it as one piece when you offer a woman help.
Say it: Can has a soft, quick sound here.
After you.
Please go first
When to use it: Say this to let someone go through a door first.
Learn it as one piece to let someone go first.
Thank you, sir.
polite thanks to a man
When to use it: Say this to thank a man politely.
Learn it as one piece to thank a man politely.
Story — the clerk says hey
Watch Ana at the drugstore. She tries sir and ma'am. The clerk stays casual.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- At the drugstore door, Mr. Kowalski holds it open.
AnaExcuse me, sir.She politely gets a man's attention.
Mr. KowalskiHello, Miss. After you.He greets her and lets her go first.- AnaAfter me? Are you coming too?She thinks he wants to follow her.
- Mr. KowalskiNo, Miss. Please go first.He just wants her to enter before him.
- AnaThank you, sir.She politely thanks the man.
- Ana walks to the counter, where a woman works.
- AnaExcuse me, ma'am.She politely gets the woman's attention.
- ClerkHey there.She gives Ana a casual hello.
- ClerkCan I help you, ma'am?She politely offers Ana help.
- AnaYes, please.She wants some help.
Practice — polite or casual
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
Excuse me, sir.Drop the Simple English hereExcuse me, ma'am.Drop the Simple English hereHey there.Drop the Simple English hereAfter you.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need a woman clerk to show you where the soap is. Get her attention.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Hey there.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
polite thanks to a man
Thank you, ____.
Build the line
Build the line
Please go first
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Mr. Kowalski says:
Pick the reply
After you.
Please go first
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You work at the shop. An older woman needs help. Offer help politely.
Can I help you, ____?
True or false?
True or false?
This is a way to thank someone.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A woman clerk hands you a bag. Thank her.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
you say this to get someone's attention
Excuse ____.
Say it — say it back
Now you're Ana at the drugstore. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- Ana (you)Get Mr. Kowalski's attention at the door.
Get Mr. Kowalski's attention at the door.
Excuse me, sir.
a polite way to address a man
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me, sir. | a polite way to address a man | |
| Excuse me, ma'am. | a polite hello to a woman you do not know | |
| Hey there. | a casual hello to someone nearby | |
| Can I help you, ma'am? | you offer help to a woman politely | |
| After you. | Please go first | |
| Thank you, sir. | polite thanks to a man |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep sir and ma'am handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps sir and ma'am ready for the shop.
Open Yak Cards