Switzerland: First Name or Title?

From ExecutivePlanet.com

Addressing others with respect

You should always address Swiss adults by their professional or courtesy title followed by their surname until invited to address them by their first name.

The order of names given on introduction is the same as in North America, with the first name followed by surname.

The Swiss are not obsessed with academic or professional titles but it is courteous to address a doctor or professor accordingly, for example, at least at the outset.

In German-speaking Switzerland, use the courtesy titles Herr to address a man and Frau to address a woman; in French-speaking areas, use Monsieur and Madame; in Italian-speaking areas, use Signore and Signora.

You should be aware that Frau, Madame and Signora are increasingly used as a mark of respect for a woman's professional and social standing, not as a statement of her marital status, and that Fraülein, Mademoiselle and Signorina are now used almost exclusively for addressing female children, teenage girls and younger women.

Many Swiss first names, particularly the French ones, are hyphenated; in such cases, both names are always used.

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