alteza
/ahl-TAY-sah/
Your Highness
As a title of royalty, 'alteza' translates to 'Your Highness' and is used to address members of a royal family.
📝 In Action
El embajador se dirigió a Su Alteza con gran respeto.
B2The ambassador addressed His Highness with great respect.
Se anunció la llegada de Su Alteza Real a la cena de gala.
B2The arrival of Her Royal Highness at the gala dinner was announced.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun, Any Gender
Even if you are referring to a male prince, 'alteza' is always a feminine noun because it refers to the title itself (the 'highness'), not the person.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Article
Mistake: "La alteza está aquí."
Correction: Su Alteza está aquí. (You almost always use the possessive adjective 'Su' (His/Her/Your) when referring to a royal title.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Title vs. Person
Think of 'alteza' as a formal way to say 'the quality of being high or noble,' which is why it is feminine, just like 'la nobleza' (nobility).
The word 'alteza' can also mean 'height' or 'loftiness,' referring to physical measurement or stature.
alteza(noun)
height
?Physical measurement or loftiness
loftiness
?Moral or spiritual quality
,elevation
?Physical position
📝 In Action
La alteza del campanario dominaba el horizonte del pueblo.
C1The height of the bell tower dominated the town's horizon.
Se reconocía la alteza de su espíritu y de sus principios éticos.
C2The loftiness of his spirit and his ethical principles was recognized.
💡 Grammar Points
Interchangeability
In most cases where you mean physical height, you should use the much more common word 'altura' instead of 'alteza'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Abstract Use
Reserve 'alteza' for describing moral or spiritual 'highness' (e.g., 'alteza de espíritu') to sound more formal or literary.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alteza
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'alteza' in its most common, modern context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am addressing a male prince, why do I say 'Su Alteza' (feminine) instead of 'Su Alto' (masculine)?
'Alteza' is a title or a concept (the quality of being high), and in Spanish, words ending in '-eza' that describe a quality are always feminine nouns. You are referring to his *title* (the Highness), not the man himself.
Is 'alteza' the same as 'altura'?
They both mean 'height,' but 'altura' is the common, everyday word for physical measurement (e.g., 'the height of the building'). 'Alteza' is typically reserved for the royal title or for very formal/literary descriptions of moral or spiritual loftiness.