noun
Common
donna
DON-uh
Donna (noun) means a title of respect for a lady, especially in Italy, roughly equivalent to "madam.". Example: “The villagers still addressed the countess as Donna Maria.”
noun
1
A title of respect for a lady, especially in Italy, roughly equivalent to "madam."
"The villagers still addressed the countess as Donna Maria."
"In the old film, the servants bowed and greeted her as Donna Lucia."
"The guide politely addressed the elderly lady as Donna and offered her a seat."
How to use donna
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn Italian honorific used before a woman's name to show respect, similar to "Lady" or "Madam."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- donnas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The villagers still addressed the countess as _____ Maria.
Etymology
From Italian donna, "lady" — a doublet of "dame" and "domina," all tracing back to Latin domina.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for donna
See all rhymes for donna →Frequently asked questions
What does “donna” mean?
The word “donna” means a title of respect for a lady, especially in Italy, roughly equivalent to "madam.". In plain terms, an Italian honorific used before a woman's name to show respect, similar to "Lady" or "Madam.".
How do you pronounce “donna”?
“Donna” is pronounced DON-uh (/ˈdɑ.nə/ in IPA).
How do you use “donna” in a sentence?
Here is “donna” used in a sentence: “The villagers still addressed the countess as Donna Maria.”
What part of speech is “donna”?
“Donna” is a noun.
Where does the word “donna” come from?
The word “donna” comes from Latin. From Italian donna, "lady" — a doublet of "dame" and "domina," all tracing back to Latin domina.
Is “donna” a common word?
“Donna” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is "donna" capitalized when used as a title before a name?
Yes, when "donna" functions as a title of respect placed before a person's name, it is capitalized, similar to titles like "Madam" or "Mrs."
What is the difference between "donna" and "madam" in English?
"Donna" is an Italian title of respect for a lady, roughly equivalent in meaning and function to the English "madam." The main difference is language and setting: "donna" is used especially in Italy, while "madam" is the standard English equivalent.
Is "donna" used mainly in Italy?
Yes, "donna" is a title of respect for a lady used especially in Italy, functioning much like "madam" does in English.
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