Inklingo

How to Say "madam" in Spanish

English → Spanish

señora

nounA1formal
Use 'señora' as a formal and respectful title for an adult woman, especially when addressing her directly or in writing, similar to 'Mrs.' or a very formal 'madam'.

Examples

Buenos días, señora Pérez.

Good morning, Madam Pérez.

doña

nounB1formal
Use 'doña' to refer to a woman who is in a position of authority or ownership, such as a boss or the lady of the house, implying respect for her status.

Examples

Cuidado con la doña, es muy estricta con las reglas.

Be careful with the lady (the boss), she is very strict about the rules.

madame

mah-DAHM-eh/maˈðame/

nounB2formal
Use 'madame' primarily in its French sense as a formal title for a woman, often in very formal or international contexts, or specifically to refer to the manager of a brothel.
A stern, well-dressed woman in a purple dress and gold jewelry, holding a large antique key while standing confidently in front of a heavy, closed red velvet curtain.

Examples

El embajador saludó a Madame Dubois con una reverencia.

The ambassador greeted Madam Dubois with a bow.

La madame del local fue arrestada por la policía.

The madam of the establishment was arrested by the police.

Todos le temían a la madame, era una mujer de carácter fuerte.

Everyone was afraid of the madam; she was a woman with a strong character.

En Francia, el título de 'madame' se usa para dirigirse a cualquier mujer casada o mayor.

In France, the title 'madame' is used to address any married or older woman.

Gender and Articles

Even though 'madame' is borrowed from French, in Spanish it is treated as a feminine noun and always uses the feminine article 'la'.

Foreign Titles

When used as a title before a name, it is often capitalized in Spanish, similar to how 'Señora' would be.

Pronunciation

Mistake: “Pronouncing it the French way ('mah-DAM').”

Correction: Spanish speakers usually pronounce all the letters, including the final 'e': 'mah-DAHM-eh'.

Confusing Formal Titles

The most common mistake is using 'madame' for general formal address. Remember that 'señora' is the standard formal address for most adult women in Spanish, while 'madame' is typically reserved for French contexts or specific, less common roles.

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