damas
/DAH-mas/
ladies
As the plural of 'dama,' damas means ladies.
damas(Noun)
ladies
?plural form of 'dama'
women
?respectful plural
,ladies' room
?used in signs (Baño de damas)
📝 In Action
Las damas entraron primero al salón.
A1The ladies entered the hall first.
Estimadas damas y caballeros, bienvenidos.
B1Dear ladies and gentlemen, welcome.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine Plural
Since 'dama' means 'lady,' 'damas' is always used with feminine plural articles (las) and adjectives.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
'Damas' is generally more formal and respectful than 'mujeres' when addressing a group of women, often used in public speeches.
Damas refers to the board game checkers.
📝 In Action
¿Sabes jugar a las damas?
A2Do you know how to play checkers?
Mi abuelo me enseñó las reglas de las damas.
B1My grandfather taught me the rules of draughts.
💡 Grammar Points
Use of 'A'
When talking about playing a sport or game, Spanish often uses the little word 'a': 'jugar a las damas'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Calling the game singular
Mistake: "No me gusta la dama."
Correction: No me gustan las damas. (The name of the game is always plural, even though it's one game.)
In chess, damas are the queens.
damas(Noun)
queens
?Chess pieces (plural)
kings
?The promoted piece in Checkers (often called 'rey' but 'dama' is also used)
📝 In Action
En el ajedrez, las damas son las piezas más móviles.
B2In chess, the queens are the most mobile pieces.
Necesito mover una de mis damas para ganar la partida.
C1I need to move one of my queens to win the game.
💡 Grammar Points
Difference from 'Reina'
While 'reina' also means queen (the monarch), 'dama' is almost exclusively used for the piece in chess and board games.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: damas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'damas' to talk about a game?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the game Checkers called 'damas'?
The game is named after the most powerful piece in the game (the Queen or King piece), which is often referred to as 'dama' in Spanish. This piece holds a high status, similar to a lady or queen in court.
Can I use 'damas' to mean 'women' in general?
Yes, but it sounds more formal or old-fashioned than 'mujeres.' It's best used in formal addresses (like 'damas y caballeros') or in institutional signs ('Baño de damas').