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señora

sen-YOH-rahseˈɲoɾa

Mrs., Ms., Ma'am

Also: Madam
NounfA1formal
A respectful adult woman, perhaps a teacher or matriarch, smiling kindly while being greeted formally.

📝 In Action

Buenos días, señora López.

A1

Good morning, Mrs. López.

Disculpe, señora, ¿dónde está el baño?

A1

Excuse me, ma'am, where is the restroom?

La señora García es la directora.

A2

Mrs. García is the director.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • señorita (Miss)
  • señor (Sir, Mr.)

Common Collocations

  • estimada señora – dear madam (used to start a formal letter)
  • señora de la casa – lady of the house

lady

Also: woman
NounfA2
A dignified, mature woman standing confidently in a garden pathway, dressed elegantly.

📝 In Action

Una señora me preguntó la hora en la calle.

A2

A lady asked me for the time on the street.

Esa señora de rojo es mi tía.

A2

That woman in red is my aunt.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

wife

NounfB1informal
A happy couple sharing a warm, informal embrace inside a cozy, bright home setting.

📝 In Action

Voy a la fiesta con mi señora.

B1

I'm going to the party with my wife.

¿Cómo está tu señora? Hace mucho que no la veo.

B1

How is your wife? I haven't seen her in a long time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esposa (wife (more standard/formal))
  • mujer (wife (also common and informal))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mi señora – my wife

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "señora" in Spanish:

ma'am→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: señora

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly says 'I'm talking about Mrs. Ruiz'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
señor(sir, Mr., gentleman) — Noun
señorita(Miss, young lady) — Noun
señorear(to lord over, to dominate) — Verb
señorío(manor, lordship, dignity) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
ahoraauroraexploradora
📚 Etymology▼

It comes from the Latin word 'senior', which simply means 'older'. This was a title of respect for an elder. The feminine form, 'señora', evolved to mean a respected woman, the mistress of a household, and eventually the polite title we use today.

First recorded: Around the 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: senhoraItalian: signoraFrench: seigneur (related masculine form)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it offensive to call a young woman 'señora'?

Not usually. In fact, it's often safer and more polite to use 'señora' for any adult woman you don't know, regardless of her age or marital status. While 'señorita' means 'Miss', using 'señora' shows a level of respect that is rarely taken badly.

When do I absolutely have to use 'la' before 'señora'?

You must use 'la' when 'señora' is the subject of the sentence or when you're talking about her. For example, 'La señora Gómez es amable' (Mrs. Gomez is kind) or 'Vi a la señora Gómez' (I saw Mrs. Gomez). The only time you drop 'la' is when you're speaking directly to her: 'Hola, señora Gómez.'