senhorita

Senhorita is a Portuguese honorific used to address or refer to an unmarried or young woman. It is the feminine form related to senhor and senhora, serving as a counterpart to the English Miss. The term signals a non-married status and, in some contexts, youth, though its precise usage can vary by region and era.

Etymology and form: Senhorita is formed with the masculine senhor and the diminutive suffix -ita, creating a term that traditionally marked courtesy toward a younger or unmarried woman. Its feminine counterpart for an adult married woman is senhora.

Usage and social nuances: In contemporary Portuguese, the use of senhorita has become less common in formal settings. It can be perceived as outdated or patronizing when used by strangers toward adult women. In many contexts, speakers opt for senhora as a polite form regardless of marital status, or address someone by name. Among younger people or in casual speech, senhorita may still appear, particularly when referring to someone’s youth or to a girl or young woman in more informal communication. Regional variation exists, with some communities maintaining the term more frequently in traditional or service contexts.

See also: Senhor, Senhora, Seño(r)rita in Spanish-speaking contexts. Note that the Spanish equivalent is señorita (with the ñ), a cognate but orthographically distinct from the Portuguese form senhorita.