senhor
/sẽˈɲoʁ/
The Portuguese phrase for "senor" is senhor.
Senhor is used both as a formal title before a surname and as a respectful way to address a man directly, similar to "sir" in English.
Which one should you use?
The feminine counterpart to senhor is senhora, which is used for a lady or to say Mrs./Ms.
How does it change in a sentence?
While senhor is the standard polite form, it is often abbreviated in writing as Sr.
How do you pronounce it?
/sẽˈɲoʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the Spanish spelling senor instead of the Portuguese senhor.
Did you know?
- While senhor is a title for people, Portuguese speakers also apply it to inanimate masculine nouns to give them a sense of importance or prestige.
- In Brazil, it is common to use senhor or senhora when speaking to parents or grandparents to show respect, even if the relationship is intimate.
- In some Portuguese-speaking regions, people avoid using senhor with people who look too young, as it can jokingly imply the person is old.
Examples in context
- Bom dia, senhor.Good morning, sir.
- O senhor quer café?Do you (polite) want coffee?
- Com licença, senhor.Excuse me, sir.
Example conversation
Mariana is working at a cafe and serving Gabriel.
- MarianaOlá, senhor, pode sentar aqui.Hello, sir, you can sit here.
- GabrielObrigado, Mariana.Thank you, Mariana.
- MarianaO senhor deseja o cardápio?Would you (polite) like the menu?
- GabrielSim, por favor.Yes, please.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry senhor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries senhor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
