senora
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A Spanish title or form of address for a married woman: "Señora" is a Spanish courtesy title used before the surname or full name of a married, widowed, or older woman, equivalent to the English "Mrs." or "Madam." It denotes respect and acknowledges marital status or mature age.
Usage
- As a title: Used directly before a woman's surname.
- We spoke with Señora García about the event.
- As a form of address: Used alone to politely address or refer to a woman.
- Excuse me, señora, is this seat taken?
- Indicating possession or relation: Often used in combination with a first name or surname to show respect in formal contexts.
- The invitation was sent by Señora Isabel Méndez.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Context: In Spanish-speaking cultures, "señora" is used more broadly than "Mrs." It can be applied to any adult woman who appears to be married or is of a certain age, as a default respectful term, even if her specific marital status is unknown.
- The young shop assistant addressed the customer as "señora" out of respect.
- Formal vs. Informal: "Señora" is the formal counterpart to the more informal "señorita" (used for a young or unmarried woman). Using the correct term is important for social etiquette.
Variants and Related Words
- Señor (noun): The male equivalent, a title for a man, similar to "Mr." or "Sir."
- Señor Ruiz will join us for dinner.
- Señorita (noun): A title for an unmarried woman or young lady, similar to "Miss."
- Señorita Jiménez is the new teacher.
- Doña (noun): Another Spanish title of respect for a woman, often implying higher social standing or greater formality than "señora." It is used before a first name.
- Doña María lives in the large house on the hill.
Synonyms
- Mrs.: The direct English equivalent used with a married woman's surname.
- Madam: A formal English term of address for a woman.
- Ma'am: A contraction of "madam," commonly used in direct address.
Notes on Form
- The word is correctly spelled with a tilde over the 'n': señora. In English texts, the tilde is sometimes omitted, resulting in the spelling "senora," but the pronunciation remains the same (approximately "sen-YOR-uh").
- It is often capitalized when used as a title directly before a name.
Noun
- a Spanish title or form of address for a married woman; similar to the English `Mrs' or `madam'