señor y señora
/seɲoɾ i seɲoɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "mr. And mrs." is translated into Spanish as señor y señora.
señor y señora is used as a title for a married couple. Unlike in English, where you often see a shared surname after the titles (such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith), in Spanish it is more common to use the titles alone or to follow them with individual names if the specific context requires it.
Meaning: Title of a married couple (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to refer to a specific married couple in a formal context, it is common to include the definite articles el and la to form el señor y la señora (the mr. And mrs.). For written correspondence, you can use the abbreviations Sr. and Sra.
How do you pronounce it?
/seɲoɾ i seɲoɾa/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, señor can be used as an adjective to give importance or a sense of high social status to any masculine noun, not just people.
- The word señor is a doublet of the English word 'senior'. Both words evolved from the Latin 'seniōrem', meaning 'elder'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using el señor or la señora followed by a single name is a way to show respect to someone much older than you, even if they are not your social superior.
Examples in context
- Señor SmithMr. Smith
Example conversation
Maria is welcoming a couple to a party.
- MaríaHola, sean bienvenidos, señor y señora Torres.Hello, welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Torres.
- MateoMuchas gracias por la invitación, María.Thank you very much for the invitation, Maria.
- MaríaEs un placer tenerlos en casa.It is a pleasure to have you at home.
- MateoEstamos felices de estar aquí.We are happy to be here.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries señor, señora, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
