How to Say "ma'am" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “ma'am” is “señora” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishA1
NounA1formal
Used to address a woman directly and respectfully.
Examples
Buenos días, señora López.
Good morning, Mrs. López.
Disculpe, señora, ¿dónde está el baño?
Excuse me, ma'am, where is the restroom?
La señora García es la directora.
Mrs. García is the director.
The Magic 'la'
When you talk about someone with a title, you need to add 'la' before it. For example, 'La señora Pérez vive aquí.' But when you talk directly to her, you drop the 'la': 'Hola, señora Pérez.'
Forgetting to Use 'la'
Mistake: “Hablé con señora Ramos.”
Correction: Hablé con la señora Ramos. Remember, if you're telling a story about her, not talking to her face, you need that little word 'la'.
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