Which one should you use?
When addressing a monarch directly, you use Majestad alone as a vocative. To refer to a monarch in the third person or to use a possessive form, you use Su Majestad or Vuestra Majestad. If you wish to express the abstract concept of majesty rather than addressing a person, use majestuosidad.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Vuestra Majestad is common in Spain and some Latin American countries, while in some Latin American countries, Su Majestad is preferred to address royalty.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using Su Majestad as a title of address, the possessive adjective su is used to mean 'your', 'his' or 'her' depending on the context. When addressing a monarch directly, the word Majestad is used alone as a vocative without a preceding possessive adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/maxesˈtad/
Did you know?
- The phrase Su Majestad is grammatically treated as a third-person entity even when the speaker is looking directly at the monarch.
- In historical Spanish literature, majestad was sometimes used ironically to address someone who was acting overly proud or arrogant.
- In certain historical contexts, Spanish law recognized la majestad not just as a person but as a legal concept representing the dignity of the state.
Examples in context
- Su Majestad está esperando.Her Majesty is waiting.This sentence shows the use of majestad to mean 'Her Majesty'.Tatoeba #1567719 by marcelostockle, translation #1556025 by Spamster
- Majestad, ¿me habéis llamado?You called, Your Majesty?This sentence shows how to address a monarch using majestad as a vocative.Tatoeba #9617917 by Shishir, translation #10367269 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Cómo podría estar Su Majestad equivocada?How could Her Majesty be wrong…?This sentence shows how to use majestad when referring to a monarch in the third person.Tatoeba #3935410 by gianich73, translation #3935168 by pullnosemans
- La majestuosidad de las montañasThe majesty of the mountains
- Te ves majestuoso/aYou look majestic
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A royal guard introduces a visitor to the queen.
- LucíaSu Majestad, el embajador ha llegado.Your Majesty, the ambassador has arrived.
- JavierGracias, Lucía. Que pase ahora mismo.Thank you, Lucía. Let him in right now.
- LucíaSí, majestad. Lo traeré inmediatamente.Yes, majesty. I will bring him immediately.
- JavierHazlo rápido, por favor.Do it quickly, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “majesty” translations and entries majestad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
