See also: monsu

Italian edit

Etymology edit

Sense 2 is Piedmontese monsù, while sense 3 is Neapolitan and Sicilian, all ultimately from French monsieur. Doublet of monsignore and messere.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /monˈsu/*
  • Rhymes: -u
  • Hyphenation: mon‧sù

Noun edit

monsù m (invariable)

  1. (literary) A title given to foreign (especially French) artists or high-ranking men during the 17th and 18th century.
  2. (northern Italy, chiefly Piedmont) mister, sir (a title or form of address for a man)
    Synonym: signore
    Alternative forms: monsiù, monssù
  3. (Naples and Sicily, now historical, often capitalized) A title given to chefs, usually of French origin.
    Alternative forms: monzù, munzù

Further reading edit

Piedmontese edit

Etymology edit

From French monsieur, from mon (my, from Middle French mon, from Old French mun, from Vulgar Latin, Late Latin mum, a reduced variant of Latin meum, nominative neuter singular of meus) +‎ sieur (sir, from the oblique case of Old French sire, from Vulgar Latin *seior, from Latin senior (older, elder)).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

monsù m (plural monsù)

  1. mister, sir (a title or form of address for a man)