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Fraeulein, which can be translated as Miss is an outdated form of addressing an unmarried woman. Fraeulein is a derivation of Frau - the suffix –lein is a diminutive similar to “chen”.
In daily life, Fraeulein is perceived as old fashioned and discriminating and should especially not be used in a professional work environment. Today’s form of addressing is Frau, which corresponds to Ms. In cafes and restaurants one can hear the occasional Fraeulein for addressing waitresses, especially in traditional and old fashioned establishments. A better form is the simple “Hallo” to get the attention of the female waiting personnel.
The modern German word Frau stems from the old German (12th century) frouwe which was the female equivalent to the male frauja/friega. The male form has not survived in German language and has been replaced with Herr (Mr.). The actual meaning of the male frauja/friega is “The First” or “The Foremost”, and this form of addressing was originally used for gentry in the Middle Ages.
Fraeulein was used until the 18th/19th century amongst the nobility for young unmarried women. From the nobility it expanded into the language of the upper bourgeois and later became a commonly used word.
