señores
/seh-NYOH-res/
gentlemen
When referring to multiple men, 'señores' translates to 'gentlemen'.
señores(Noun)
gentlemen
?referring to multiple men
,misters
?plural title abbreviation (e.g., Mssrs. Smith and Jones)
sirs
?formal address
📝 In Action
Los señores de la mesa tres están listos para ordenar.
A1The gentlemen at table three are ready to order.
Mis vecinos son dos señores muy amables.
A2My neighbors are two very kind gentlemen.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural of Address
In Spanish, the formal titles (Sr., Sra., Srta.) are often used before the last name when referring to people: 'los señores García' (The García family/Mr. and Mrs. García).
'Señores' can be used when addressing a mixed audience, meaning 'ladies and gentlemen'.
señores(Noun)
ladies and gentlemen
?when addressing an audience
,people
?referring to a general group
folks
?informal address equivalent
📝 In Action
¡Buenos días, señores! Gracias por venir a la reunión.
A2Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for coming to the meeting.
La decisión final es de los señores que están en la junta directiva.
B1The final decision belongs to the people on the board of directors.
💡 Grammar Points
The Universal Masculine
Spanish uses the masculine plural form ('señores') to refer to a group that includes both men and women. Even if there are 99 women and 1 man, the group is called 'los señores'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Addressing Mixed Groups
Mistake: "Using 'señoras y señores' for every mixed group."
Correction: While 'señoras y señores' is polite and used for speeches, the simpler 'señores' is grammatically correct and very common for referring to mixed groups in general conversation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Modern Usage
For maximum inclusivity, some speakers and official documents now use both genders: 'señoras y señores' or even 'señores/as', but 'señores' remains the standard grammatical term.
When used as an interjection to get a group's attention, 'señores' means 'Excuse me!'.
señores(Interjection)
Excuse me!
?to get a group's attention
,Hey!
?when calling out to unknown people in public
look here
?expressing disbelief or frustration
📝 In Action
¡Señores! Por favor, mantengan la calma y sigan las instrucciones.
B1Folks! Please stay calm and follow the instructions.
Pero señores, ¡esto es inaceptable! Tienen que revisarlo.
B2But look here, this is unacceptable! You have to check it.
💡 Grammar Points
Getting Attention
Using '¡Señores!' is a polite way to interrupt or address a group of strangers, similar to saying 'Excuse me, everyone' or 'Folks' in a public place.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: señores
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'señores' to refer to a mixed group of 5 men and 5 women?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'señores' strictly about men, or can it refer to women too?
While 'señores' is the plural of 'gentleman/mister,' it is also the standard, grammatically correct way to refer to or address any group that is mixed (both men and women) or whose gender composition is unknown. This is called the 'universal masculine' rule in Spanish.
When should I use 'señoras y señores' instead of just 'señores'?
Use 'señoras y señores' (ladies and gentlemen) when you are giving a formal speech or presentation and want to be extra polite and explicit in recognizing both genders. Simply using 'señores' is usually sufficient in everyday conversation and formal references.