dona

¹

[ daw-nah ]

noun

1. (initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: a Portuguese title prefixed to a woman's given name.
2. (in Portuguese-speaking countries) a lady or gentlewoman.

doña

²

[ daw-nyah ]

noun

1. (initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: a Spanish title prefixed to a woman's given name.
2. (in Spanish-speaking countries) a lady or gentlewoman.

Doña

¹

/ ˈdɒnjə; ˈdoɲa /

noun

1. a Spanish title of address equivalent to Mrs or Madam : placed before a name to indicate respect

Dona

²

/ ˈdõːnə /

noun

1. a Portuguese title of address equivalent to Mrs or Madam : placed before a name to indicate respect

Word History and Origins

Origin of dona¹

1615–25; < Portuguese < Latin domina, feminine of dominus

Origin of dona²

1615–25; < Spanish < Latin domina, feminine of dominus

Word History and Origins

Origin of dona¹

C17: via Spanish, from Latin domina; see Dona

Origin of dona²

C19: from Latin domina lady, feminine of dominus master

Example Sentences

Doña Jocasta regarded Tula doubtfully; she certainly gave no appearance of holding wealth to redeem a pueblo.

From Project Gutenberg

Doña Jocasta paced the outer corridor, watched somberly by Padre Andreas on whom the beauty of the hour was lost.

From Project Gutenberg

Guards were everywhere and peons rode ahead to inform the major-domo, and he came riding like devils to meet Doña Dolores Terain.

From Project Gutenberg

“I do not know that,” replied Doña Jocasta thoughtfully, and she sank into a rawhide chair in the shade of a pillar.

From Project Gutenberg

Truly the companionship of Doña Jocasta might be a more difficult thing to explain than that of the Indian girl of a slave raid!

From Project Gutenberg