A female terminal for receiving a flat male terminal with a terminal tab (5), having a rectangular cross-section and a predetermined width (B) and thickness (D). The female terminal includes a contact element (1, 101) having two elastic contact tabs (3, 103) approaching each other along a longitudinal axis (2, 102), the contact tabs opposing contact zones (4, 104) for contacting the terminal tab (5); a hollow, rectangular support element (16, 116) defined by four walls (19, 20, 21, 22; 119, 120, 121, 122), enclosing the contact element (1, 101) and in which the elastic contact tabs (3, 103) are accommodated; and a device (13, 113) for electrically connecting a conductor. A first pair of opposing walls (19, 21; 119, 121) cover the contact tabs (3, 103) and a second pair of opposing walls (20, 22; 120, 122) have an elastic locking tab (26, 126) connected thereto. The elastic locking tabs (26, 126) engage between the elastic contact tabs (3, 103) and hold the contact zones (4, 104) of the contact tabs in a pre-tensioned and contact free manner at a distance (A) from each other, which is smaller than the thickness (D) of the terminal tab (5), in a condition in which the flat male terminal is not inserted. The locking tabs (26, 126) have a free distance (C) therebetween before the insertion of the terminal tab (5), which is smaller than the width (B) of the terminal tab (5) and the locking tabs (26, 126) contact the terminal tab (5) in the inserted position along the longitudinal axis (2, 102) in a contact area which is off-set further from the first end (17, 117) of the support element (16, 116) than the contact zones (4, 104) of the contact tabs (3, 103).