señora
/seˈɲoɾa/
señora is the Spanish word for señora.
señora is a polite title used to address or refer to a married or older woman. It is a common and universally understood way to address someone formally.
Which one should you use?
While señora is used for married or older women, the term señorita is used for unmarried or younger women.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, it is customary to use the phrase Señora de followed by the husband's full name, particularly in formal written correspondence. Additionally, the term Doña is used in Spain and some Latin American countries to address married women or women of a certain age with deep respect.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific woman in the third person, it is common to use the definite article la before the title, such as in la señora García.
How do you pronounce it?
/seˈɲoɾa/
Did you know?
- The term señora is the feminine form of señor, and both derive from the Latin word for 'lord' or 'master'.
- In many Spanish-speaking households, children may address their mother as señora as a sign of extreme respect or when the parents are present in a formal family setting.
- In some Spanish dialects, señora can be used as a noun to describe a woman who possesses a refined, elegant and traditional manner of behaving.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, señora PérezGood morning, Mrs. Pérez
- Doña Martinez, ¿cómo está usted?Mrs. Martinez, how are you?
- Seño, ¿me permite hacer una pregunta?Miss, may I ask a question?
- Buenos días, señora López. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?Good morning, Mrs. López. How can I assist you?
- Permiso, señora, ¿tiene hora?Excuse me, ma'am, do you have the time?
- La señora vive en esa casa.The lady lives in that house.
- Buenos días, señora.Good morning, ma'am.
- ¿Puede ayudarme, señora?Can you help me, ma'am?
Example conversation
Mateo is asking a woman for directions on the street.
- MateoPerdone, señora, ¿dónde está el banco?Excuse me, ma'am, where is the bank?
- LucíaEstá a la vuelta, joven.It is around the corner, young man.
- MateoMuchas gracias, señora.Thank you very much, ma'am.
- LucíaDe nada, que tenga un buen día.You're welcome, have a nice day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry señora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries señora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
