Monsieur l'Ambassadeur (2025)

Bonjour,

Je dois écire une lettre à l'ambassade des USA, mais j'ai un petit problème : comment dois-je m'adresser à ce monsieur ? Sir ? Mister Ambassador ?

De même, puis-je me contenter des formules de politesse habituelles ?
(Je souhaiterais éviter un incident diplomatique.... )

Merci d'avance à ceux qui peuvent éclairer ma lanterne

"Dear Mr Ambassador" would not be out of place.

but ..
His/Her Excellency (abbreviation HE, oral address Your Excellency) — most Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Representatives to International Organizations; sometimes also the Presidents of the Republics, Governors of provinces and the Prime Minister.

Address the letter to

HE Mr Sam Fox*
Ambassador of the United States of America to Belgium
United States Embassy
bvd du Régent 27
1000 BRUSSELS

Your Excellency

and finish it with

Yours faithfully

*English to French, Italian, German & Spanish Dictionary - WordReference.com

I used to work as secretary to the NZ Embassy in Brussels many many years ago (at that time it was also in bvd du Régent!)

Although a lot of things have changed, I doubt you'll spark an international incident with a letter like that.

Of course, we don't know what's going between Your Excellency and Yours faithfully.

I would write on an envelope or address line of a letter (this is the US protocol; other English-speaking countries may differ):

The Ambassador
Embassy of XXX
(street address or PO Box)

and to start the letter:

Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador:
https://careers.state.gov/survey/DOS Authorities/Content/HTMs/Documents/Sample Læetter of Instruction.pdf

("Excellency" is not in common usage in AE when addressing an ambassador--it sounds like something said to a royal...)

comment dois-je m'adresser à ce monsieur ? Sir ? Mister Ambassador ?

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À l'oral (en lui parlant directement) on dirait Sir ou Ma'am [mæm] (selon le genre de l'ambassadeur).

Locape said:

I don't understand  attention here. Does it mean À l'attention de (FAO) or  careful?? Is this a real letter or a letter in a book? Is this on the envelope or inside the letter?

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It is the equivalent of "à l'attention de".... It is a real letter... No envelope

Locape said:

D'accord, donc ce n'est pas sur l'enveloppe et la personne sait que l'ambassadeur est un homme (en Colombie ? Actuellement, M. Frédéric Doré), alors je pense que FAO: Mr. Ambassador of France devrait convenir.

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Super. Merci. (C'était une lettre de 2013....😄, mais j'ai vérifié).

Locape said:

Mr. Ambassador of France

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This is not a proper title in English.

Without a specific person's name, in AE a letter would be worded:
The Ambassador
Embassy of France

Even if it's not on the envelope? But inside a letter?

noroeme said:

Super. Merci. (C'était une lettre de 2013....😄, mais j'ai vérifié).

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[...] Is this for an American or a British audience?

wildan1 said:

This is not a proper title in English.

Without a specific person's name, in AE a letter would be worded:
The Ambassador
Embassy of France

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Ok. Thank you.

Locape said:

Even if it's not on the envelope? But inside a letter?

[...] Is this for an American or a British audience?

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For an American audience