señorita
/seɲoˈɾita/
The Spanish phrase for "miss girl" is señorita.
The term señorita is used to address an unmarried woman or a girl in a polite and respectful manner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and parts of Central America, the word muchacha is commonly used to refer to a young woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of señorita is señoritas, which translates to "misses" or "young ladies".
How do you pronounce it?
/seɲoˈɾita/
Did you know?
- Because señorita is built from señora, which comes from the Latin word for 'lord', the word literally carries the DNA of nobility.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, señorita is often used as a professional title for teachers, regardless of their marital status.
- In Spain, the use of señorita has declined in formal settings as more women prefer señora regardless of their marital status to avoid being defined by their relationship to a man.
Examples in context
- ¡Eh, moza! ¿Quieres tomar algo?Hey, girl! Do you want something to drink?
- Disculpe, señorita, ¿sabe qué hora es?Excuse me, miss, do you know what time it is?
- La señorita es muy amable.The young lady is very kind.
- Hola, señorita, ¿puede ayudarme?Hello, miss, can you help me?
Example conversation
Mateo is asking Lucía for directions in a park.
- MateoDisculpe, señorita, ¿dónde está la salida?Excuse me, miss, where is the exit?
- LucíaEstá por allá, después de los árboles.It is over there, past the trees.
- MateoMuchas gracias por su ayuda.Thank you very much for your help.
- LucíaDe nada, que tenga un buen día.You're welcome, have a nice day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry señorita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries señorita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
