How to Address Diplomats

US Ambassador by a US Citizen


Letter Address:
The Honorable (Full Name)
Ambassador of the United States of America
American Embassy
Address

Salutation
Dear Mr. / Madam Ambassador:

Conversation
Mr. / Madam Ambassador
Ambassador (Surname)

Formal Introduction
The Honorable (Full Name), Ambassador of the United States of America

Foreign Ambassador


Letter Address
His / Her Excellency (Full Name)
The Ambassador of (Name of Country)
The Embassy of (Name of Country)
Address

Salutation
Your Excellency:
– or –
Dear Mr. / Madam Ambassador:

Conversation
Excellency
Mr. / Madam Ambassador

Introduction
His / Her Excellency (Full Name) Ambassador of (Name of Country)

See Specific Ambassadors:
———U.S. Ambassador by a U.S. Citizen
———U.S. Career Ambassador Retired
———U.S. Ambassador, Retired Foreign Service
———U.S. Ambassador, former, political appointee
———U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom
———Goodwill Ambassador
———Foreign Ambassador
—

See Other Diplomats:
———Attaché
———Chargé d’Affaires
———Consul
———Consul General
———Consul Honorary
———Counselor
———Deputy Chief of Mission
———First Secretary
———Second Secretary
———Third Secretary

Ab

Forms of Address: How a conversation begins can have a huge impact on how the conversation - even the entire relationship - develops.

 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you use when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey

 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.