hola señora
/ola seɲoɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hello madam" is translated into Spanish as hola señora.
This phrase is a polite greeting used when addressing an adult woman. Depending on the time of day, you might also use formal time-of-day greetings such as Buenos días, señora until around midday or Buenas tardes, señora from midday until early evening.
Which one should you use?
The phrase hola señora is used for an adult woman, whereas hola señorita would be used for a younger woman or a Miss.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using señora instead of just hola adds a layer of formal respect when addressing a woman. The phrase is considered polite.
Did you know?
- Some linguists have attempted to link the greeting hola to the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'by God!' However, most scholars find this connection lacks sufficient evidence.
- If you use señora to greet a much younger woman, it might unintentionally imply she looks older than she actually is.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, addressing a woman as señora is often a sign of social respect regardless of her marital status, especially if she is older.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, señora.Good morning, ma'am
- Hola señora, ¿cómo está?Hello madam, how are you?
- Hola señora, buenos días.Hello madam, good morning.
- Hola señora, es un placer.Hello madam, it is a pleasure.
Example conversation
Daniel is greeting Lucía as she enters a professional office.
- DanielHola señora, pase por favor.Hello madam, please come in.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, Daniel.Thank you very much, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Tiene una cita hoy?Do you have an appointment today?
- LucíaSí, tengo cita a las diez.Yes, I have an appointment at ten.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, señora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
