Senhor

Senhor is a Portuguese honorific meaning "sir" or "lord." It functions as a courtesy title before a man’s name or as a respectful form of address in formal speech. In religious usage, it can mean "the Lord" and appears in phrases addressing God or Jesus. The feminine form is senhora, and the related term senhorita historically denoted an unmarried young woman, though it is used less commonly today.

Usage varies by country but is common in both Portugal and Brazil. In these contexts, senhor signals politeness and social distance, as in Senhor José or Senhor Presidente. It is frequently employed in customer service, legal, or governmental settings. In professional addresses, it may appear in combinations such as Senhor Doutor, a traditional form for doctors, lawyers, and other professionals.

History and social context also shape its meaning. The term derives from the Latin senior, meaning elder, and is cognate with Spanish señor and French seigneur. In feudal and colonial periods, senhor carried connotations of lordship or master over land and people, as in the Portuguese phrase senhor de engenho, referring to plantation owners in Brazil. Today, while its use is widespread, it often signals formality or respect rather than strict hierarchy.

Related forms include senhora for women, and, in some contexts, Dona as an honorific for married or elder women. The word remains a common element of formal address, diplomacy, and everyday courtesy in Portuguese-speaking communities, while its usage adapts to contemporary norms and social conventions.