señor
/seˈɲoɾ/masculine
In Spanish, the English phrase "mister" is translated as señor.
señor is a title used to address adult males. It is commonly used in professional or business settings.
Meaning: title of adult male (noun)
Which one should you use?
While the English "Mr." is almost always followed by a surname, the Spanish señor can be used as a standalone vocative to address a stranger directly.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is señor. To address a woman, use the feminine form señora. For multiple men, the plural is señores and for multiple women, the plural is señoras.
How do you pronounce it?
/seˈɲoɾ/
Did you know?
- In very formal Spanish, señor can be used to refer to God, often appearing as el Señor with a capital letter.
- The linguistic ancestor of señor was not just 'mister', but actually meant 'lord' or 'master', similar to how 'lord' is used in English.
- In certain formal Spanish documents, the term su señoría is used to address judges, elevating the simple concept of 'mister' to a judicial honorific.
Examples in context
- ¡Oiga señor, olvidó su abrigo!Hey mister, you forgot your coat!This sentence shows how to use señor when addressing a stranger to get their attention.Tatoeba #1623582 by teskmon, translation #1103054 by jamessilver
- ¡Sí, señor diputado!Yes, mister deputy!This sentence demonstrates using señor when addressing a person with a specific professional title.Tatoeba #9071854 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9071861 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Buenos días, señor López. ¿Cómo puedo ayudarle hoy?Good morning, Mr. López. How can I assist you today?
- Don García, es un placer tenerlo aquí.Mr. García, it is a pleasure to have you here.
Example conversation
Elena introduces her father to Javier.
- JavierHola, ¿quién es él?Hello, who is he?
- ElenaÉl es el señor García.He is Mr. García.
- JavierMucho gusto, señor García.Nice to meet you, Mr. García.
- ElenaÉl es mi padre.He is my father.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mister” translations and entries señor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries señor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
