Honoríficos

Honoríficos are linguistic forms and social practices used to convey respect, status, or formality in communication. They are not limited to a single word, but include titles, prefixes or suffixes attached to a name, respectful pronouns, and special verb or sentence‑ending forms. Their primary function is to encode social distance, hierarchy, and the nature of the relationship between speakers.

Types of honoríficos include vocatives (how a person is addressed), honorific titles, kinship terms used to show respect, and grammatical systems that mark deference. Some languages use fixed titles before names (as in Don or Doña in Spanish), while others employ suffixes after names (as in many East Asian languages). In some languages, verb forms or pronouns change according to the speaker’s relation to the listener.

Spanish-speaking contexts commonly use Don or Doña before a person’s first name or full name to signal respect, particularly with older or higher-status individuals. The choice of form can vary by region, setting, and degree of formality, and over-familiar use can be seen as disrespectful.

In East Asia, honorific systems are extensive. Japanese uses keigo (respectful language), including forms like san, sama, and sensei as suffixes after names, and distinct polite verb forms. Korean employs suffixes such as -ssi for polite address and -nim for highly respectful reference, applied after names or titles. Chinese languages use polite pronouns such as 您 (nín) and titles like 先生 (xiānsheng) or 女士 (nǚshì) to convey politeness and formality.

Misuse or overuse of honoríficos can offend, and social rules governing them vary across cultures and contexts. Global communication and social change continue to influence how honorifics are used and perceived.