dona
/ˈdona/
dona is the Spanish word for donut.
The word dona is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'donut' used in many Latin American countries.
Which one should you use?
The word dona (often spelled 'donas' in plural) refers to the food item, whereas the formal title for a woman is spelled Doña.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, dona is used to mean donut. In Latin American countries, most commonly in Mexico and parts of Central America, the term Doña can be used as a formal term for married women.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdona/
Did you know?
- The word dona comes from the English 'doughnut', which is a combination of 'dough' and 'nut' because early versions were small balls of fried dough resembling nuts.
- While dona is used in Latin America, people in Spain usually call this treat a donut or use the term rosquilla, which refers to a traditional ring-shaped pastry.
- The title Doña is the feminine counterpart to Don, and unlike dona, these titles are often used today to show respect to elderly people regardless of their marital status.
Examples in context
- Esta dona tiene mucho chocolate.This donut has a lot of chocolate.
- Me gusta la dona de fresa.I like the strawberry donut.
- Compré una dona en la tienda.I bought a donut at the shop.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are at a bakery.
- LucíaHola, ¿qué quieres comer, Mateo?Hello, what do you want to eat, Mateo?
- MateoSolo quiero una dona glaseada.I just want a glazed doughnut.
- LucíaYo también voy a pedir una dona.I am going to order a doughnut too.
- MateoPerfecto, vamos a pagar ahora.Perfect, let's pay now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dona, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dona, CC BY-SA 4.0.
