sí, señora
/ˈsi seˈɲoɾa/word by word
The English phrase 'yes, ma'am' is translated into Spanish as sí, señora.
sí, señora is a polite way to say yes when speaking to a woman. While it is polite, it is used more frequently in formal service settings or when showing respect to an older woman than in casual conversation between friends.
Which one should you use?
You may also use Así es, señora as a formal option to express agreement, which can be used interchangeably with sí, señora. If you are addressing a young, unmarried woman, use sí, señorita instead of sí, señora.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word señora is a noun that can be used alone as a form of address, similar to how 'ma'am' functions in English.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsi seˈɲoɾa/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, using señora for a woman who is clearly young can be perceived as a subtle insult regarding her age.
- The word sí shares its ancestry with the English word 'self'. It stems from the Latin 'sibi', which was the dative form of a root meaning 'one's own self'.
- The word señora is the feminine version of señor, which originally meant 'lord' or 'master' in Old Spanish. This connection shows how a word for high-ranking authority evolved into a standard polite title for women.
Examples in context
- Sí, señora, haré todo lo posible para cumplir con su peticiónYes, ma'am, I will do my best to fulfill your request
- Así es, señora, estoy de acuerdo con su propuestaYes, ma'am, I agree with your proposal
- Sí, señorita, estoy listo para comenzar la tareaYes, ma'am, I'm ready to start the task
- Sí, señora, ya terminé el reporte.Yes, ma'am, I have already finished the report.
- Sí, señora, yo lo traigo ahora mismo.Yes, ma'am, I will bring it right now.
Example conversation
Alejandro is a delivery driver returning a package to Lucía.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿puede dejar el paquete en la mesa?Alejandro, can you leave the package on the table?
- AlejandroSí, señora, lo haré de inmediato.Yes, ma'am, I will do it immediately.
- LucíaMuchas gracias por su ayuda.Thank you very much for your help.
- AlejandroDe nada, que tenga un buen día.You're welcome, have a nice day.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sí, señora) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries señora, sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
