doncella
/don-SAY-yah/
lady's maid
A lady's maid or servant attending to her duties.
doncella(noun)
lady's maid
?a female servant for a noblewoman
,handmaiden
?historical or religious service
housemaid
?general domestic work in a large estate
📝 In Action
La doncella ayudó a la marquesa a ponerse el corsé.
B2The maid helped the marchioness put on her corset.
En el palacio, cada princesa tenía su propia doncella.
B2In the palace, every princess had her own handmaiden.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
This word is always feminine because it refers specifically to a female role. Even if the person identifying it is male, the word stays 'la doncella'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use it for modern help
Mistake: "Calling a modern cleaning lady a 'doncella'."
Correction: Use 'empleada del hogar' or 'limpiadora'. 'Doncella' sounds like you're living in the 1800s.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Downton Abbey'
Use this word when discussing history, literature, or very formal settings involving personal service to a lady.
A young maiden in a natural setting.
📝 In Action
El caballero juró proteger a la joven doncella.
C1The knight swore to protect the young maiden.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary flavor
Using this word today usually implies you are telling a fairy tale or writing a poem.
The colorful rainbow wrasse fish found in the Mediterranean.
📝 In Action
La doncella es un pez muy común en el mar Mediterráneo.
C2The rainbow wrasse is a very common fish in the Mediterranean Sea.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: doncella
Question 1 of 2
If you are watching a movie set in a medieval castle, what is a 'doncella' most likely doing?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'doncella' the same as 'sirvienta'?
Not exactly. While both are servants, a 'doncella' usually had a higher status and a closer relationship to the lady of the house, focusing on her personal needs rather than heavy housework.
Can 'doncella' refer to a man?
No. The word is strictly feminine. The male equivalent in a historical context would be a 'doncel' or 'paje' (page).