How to Say "don" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “don” is “don” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishA2
NounA2formal
title of respect, like Mr. but more traditional
Examples
Buenos días, don Carlos.
Good morning, Don Carlos.
Mi abuelo, don José, era un hombre muy sabio.
My grandfather, Don José, was a very wise man.
Le presento a don Miguel, el director de la empresa.
I'd like to introduce you to Don Miguel, the company director.
How to Use 'Don'
Always use 'don' right before a man's first name, like 'don Alberto'. Never use it with just the last name. For the last name, you would use 'señor', like 'señor García'.
Using 'Don' with a Last Name
Mistake: “Hola, don Martínez.”
Correction: Hola, don Carlos. OR Hola, señor Martínez. Remember, 'don' goes with the first name, and 'señor' goes with the last name.
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