The word Miss is a polite title for an unmarried woman, but what happens when you talk about more than one? Should you say Misses or Miss’? The plural can be tricky, so this guide explains the correct form, pronunciation, and how it differs from Mrs. and Ms. in English.
Definition and Plural of Miss
What Does “Miss” Mean?
Miss (noun/title) is used before the name of an unmarried woman or girl as a respectful form of address.
Simple Definition:
- Miss = a title for an unmarried woman.
Examples:
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Miss Taylor is my English teacher.
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Excuse me, Miss, you dropped your wallet.
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The students greeted Miss Johnson at the door.
💡 Note:
Miss is a title, not a general noun. It’s always written with a capital letter when used before a name.
What Is the Plural of “Miss”?
✅ The correct plural of Miss is Misses.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Miss | Misses |
Examples:
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The Misses Johnson and Smith are both teachers.
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The students made cards for their favorite Misses.
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We invited several Misses to the event.
💡 Important:
The plural Misses can refer to multiple women with the title “Miss” or, in informal contexts, to wives (used humorously, like “the misses” meaning “the wife”).
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | How It Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| Miss | /mɪs/ | “miss” |
| Misses | /ˈmɪsɪz/ | “MIS-iz” |
Examples in Sentences
Singular: “Miss”
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Miss Brown teaches mathematics at my school.
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I spoke to Miss Parker about the project.
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The children gave Miss Wilson a flower.
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Miss Emma will lead the performance.
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Excuse me, Miss, could you help me?
Plural: “Misses”
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The Misses Brown and Green are sisters.
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Our teachers, the Misses Carter and Adams, are both kind and patient.
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The principal thanked the Misses for their hard work.
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The Misses run the school’s English and Science departments.
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The class made thank-you cards for the Misses.
The Difference Between Miss, Ms., and Mrs.
| Title | Used For | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miss | Unmarried women | /mɪs/ | Miss Green teaches English. |
| Ms. | All women (married or not) | /mɪz/ | Ms. Parker prefers this title. |
| Mrs. | Married women | /ˈmɪsɪz/ | Mrs. Brown is my neighbor. |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with Miss or Misses.
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______ Brown teaches my English class.
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The ______ Adams and Carter are both my teachers.
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Excuse me, ______, may I ask a question?
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The students gave the ______ flowers on Teacher’s Day.
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______ Johnson is new to our school.
Answer:
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Miss
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Misses
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Miss
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Misses
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Miss
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Sentence
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a) The Misses Clark and Hill are attending the meeting. ✅
b) The Miss’ Clark and Hill are attending the meeting. -
a) Miss Taylor is my favorite teacher. ✅
b) Misses Taylor is my favorite teacher. -
a) The Misses are organizing the school play. ✅
b) The Miss’ are organizing the school play. -
a) Excuse me, Miss, can you help me? ✅
b) Excuse me, Misses, can you help me? -
a) The students thanked the Misses for their help. ✅
b) The students thanked the Miss’ for their help.