señores

Señores is the plural form of señor, a Spanish honorific used to address or refer to adult men. It is commonly employed in formal speech and writing in Spain and Latin America. The feminine equivalents are señora and señoras. In written communication, señores is often used as a respectful opening, for example, Estimados señores, or Se�nores Pérez. In speeches, one may address an audience with Señores or with Señores y señoras.

Etymology and sense: The term derives from Latin senior, meaning elder or older, and developed in medieval and early modern Spanish as a title of respect. Don is a higher honorific that may accompany a name in more formal registers.

Usage notes: In modern neutral writing, señores signals a formal or polite tone when addressing a group of men or a male line of business partners. It does not, by itself, convey a precise social status. In casual contexts, or when addressing women, other forms such as señoras or don/dona may be more appropriate. In many countries, señores y señoras or estimados señores y señoras are used to address mixed audiences.

Abbreviations and related forms: The masculine abbreviation is Sr. (Señor). Female forms are Sra. (Señora) and Srta. (Señorita) for unmarried women. The plural Señores is often paired with Señoras in formal communications, as in Señores y señoras del comité.

See also: Don, Señora, Señorita, Caballero, Título honorífico.