How to Say “Sir” in Spanish

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señor
/seˈɲoɾ/masculine
To say sir in Spanish, use señor. For example, A su servicio, señor. means I'm at your service, sir.
señor is a respectful way to address a man, especially someone older or in a higher position or a man whose name you do not know.
Meaning: address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown (noun)

Which one should you use?

Caballero means gentleman and also sounds formal and respectful. Don is a traditional form of respect placed before a man's first name or full name.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In some contexts in Mexico, patrón is used to address someone formally with a sense of respect.

How does it change in a sentence?

The feminine form is señora, used like ma'am. The diminutive señorito is used for a young boy or young man. Placed before a surname, señor works like English Mr.

How do you pronounce it?

señor is pronounced /seˈɲoɾ/, with the stress on the last syllable, a ny sound in the middle and a tapped r at the end.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Do not pair señor with a first name the way you might say Mr. John. Use it with a surname or on its own. Also note that señor alone can sound more formal or distant than English sir in some situations, so tone matters.

Did you know?

  • The term caballero comes from the word for 'horseman' or 'knight', linking the modern concept of a gentleman to medieval cavalry.
  • The word señor is a linguistic double of the English word 'senior'. Both originate from the Latin word seniōrem, which means 'elder'.

Examples in context

  • ¿El señor es médico?
    Are you a doctor, sir?
    El señor here is a polite way to say you, using the third person.
    Tatoeba #5311719 by baudelaire, translation #5341005 by Amittai
  • A su servicio, señor.
    I'm at your service, sir.
    A su servicio is a formal phrase of courtesy before señor.
    Tatoeba #2944705 by marcelostockle, translation #2946767 by astyng
  • No puede pasar, señor.
    You may not pass, sir.
    señor softens a firm refusal.
    Tatoeba #1505945 by marcelostockle, translation #1110514 by Scott
  • Buenos días, señor García. ¿En qué puedo ayudarlo hoy?
    Good morning, Mr. García. How may I assist you today?
  • Buenas tardes, Don Manuel. ¿Podría darme su opinión sobre este asunto?
    Good afternoon, Don Manuel. Could you give me your opinion on this matter?
  • Permítame, caballero, mostrarle la ubicación de los asientos reservados.
    Allow me, sir, to show you the location of the reserved seats.
  • 47 more sentences on Tatoeba

Example conversation

Sofía is working at a hotel reception desk.

  1. Daniel

    Hola, buenas tardes.
    Hello, good afternoon.
  2. Sofía

    Hola, señor. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?
    Hello, sir. How can I help you?
  3. Daniel

    Tengo una reserva a nombre de Daniel.
    I have a reservation under the name Daniel.
  4. Sofía

    Un momento, señor, voy a buscarla.
    One moment, sir, I will look for it.

Sources

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Lewis Victor
Lewis VictorHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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