A portrait of a respected, mature woman in formal attire, representing the title 'Mrs.' or 'Ms.'

sra.

/sen-YOR-ah/

AbbreviationfA1

Mrs.?Title used before a married woman's last name.

Also:Ms.?Often used for any adult woman, regardless of marital status, as a sign of respect.

📝 In Action

La Sra. García es la directora del colegio.

Mrs. García is the school principal.

Por favor, envíe el paquete a la Sra. Chen.

Please send the package to Ms. Chen.

Asunto: Invitación para la Sra. Morales.

Subject: Invitation for Mrs. Morales.

Word Connections

Synonyms

señora (Mrs., lady, ma'am)

Antonyms

srta. (Miss)
sr. (Mr.)

Common Collocations

Estimada Sra. [Apellido] – Dear Mrs. [Last Name]
A la atención de la Sra. [Apellido] – For the attention of Mrs. [Last Name]

💡 Grammar Points

Abbreviation vs. Full Word

'Sra.' is just the written shortcut for 'señora'. When you speak, you always say the full word, 'señora'. Think of it like writing 'Dr.' but saying 'Doctor'.

Don't Forget the Period

This abbreviation always needs a period at the end ('sra.'). This little dot signals that it's a shortened word.

Using 'la' with Titles

When you're talking about someone, you need to include 'la' before the title, like in 'La Sra. López es de México'. When you're talking to them directly, you drop the 'la': 'Buenos días, Sra. López'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronouncing the Abbreviation

Mistake: "Saying 'sra' out loud."

Correction: Always say the full word: 'señora'. The abbreviation is only for writing.

Forgetting 'la'

Mistake: "Sra. Ramos es mi jefa."

Correction: La Sra. Ramos es mi jefa. When talking about someone with a title, you usually need 'el' or 'la' before it.

⭐ Usage Tips

When in Doubt, Use 'Sra.'

If you're unsure of a woman's marital status or age, using 'Sra.' is the safest and most respectful choice for any adult woman. It's more common than using 'Srta.' (Miss) for anyone who isn't clearly a young girl.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sra.

Question 1 of 1

You are talking ABOUT your boss, Elena Soto. How would you refer to her?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

señora(Mrs., lady, ma'am) - noun

señor(Mr., sir, gentleman) - noun

sr.(Mr. (abbreviation)) - abbreviation

señorita(Miss, young lady) - noun

srta.(Miss (abbreviation)) - abbreviation

señorear(to lord over, to dominate) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'Sra.' and 'Srta.'?

'Sra.' (señora) is for married women or generally any adult woman. 'Srta.' (señorita) is for a young, unmarried woman. In modern Spanish, especially in professional settings, 'Sra.' is often used for all adult women as a respectful default, much like 'Ms.' in English. When in doubt, 'Sra.' is the safer choice.

Do I always have to capitalize 'sra.'?

Yes, because it's a title used before a proper name, it's always capitalized, just like you would capitalize 'Mrs.' in 'Mrs. Smith'.

Can I use 'Sra.' without a last name?

In writing, 'Sra.' is almost always followed by a last name. When speaking, you would use the full word 'señora' by itself to get a woman's attention, similar to saying 'Ma'am' or 'Excuse me, miss' in English.