señorita
3 synonyms for señorita, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A Spanish title and form of address for a young or unmarried woman, equivalent to Miss.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use señorita
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Señorita Gómez
gracias, señorita
Capitalised when used as a title before a name; the accented ñ should be kept in careful writing.
Etymology
Spanish señorita, the diminutive of señora 'lady, madam', which goes back to Latin senior 'older person'.
Full origin of señorita →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between señorita and señora?
Señorita is used for a young or unmarried woman, señora for a married or older one, roughly like Miss and Mrs. Because guessing wrong can offend, many Spanish speakers now default to señora for any adult woman, much as English has shifted towards Ms.
How do you pronounce and type señorita?
Say sen-yo-REE-ta: the ñ is a 'ny' sound as in canyon. On a Mac type Option-n then n; on Windows hold Alt and type 0241; on a phone, hold the n key and pick ñ.
Is it rude for an English speaker to call someone señorita?
In Spanish-speaking countries it is a normal courtesy when the woman is clearly young. Used by a stranger towards an adult woman in English, especially as a flirtation, it can come across as a cliché or as patronising.
