donna

¹ American  

[dawn-nah] / ˈdɔn nɑ /

noun

1. (initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: an Italian title of respect prefixed to the given name of a woman.

2. an Italian lady.

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Donna ² American  

[don-uh] / ˈdɒn ə /

noun

1. a female given name.

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Donna British  

/ ˈdɒnə, ˈdɔnna /

noun

1. an Italian title of address equivalent to Madam, indicating respect

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Etymology

Origin of donna

1660–70; < Italian < Latin domina, feminine of dominus

Example Sentences

But Knight, Larraín, and Jolie are all careful to avoid reducing Callas to an over-the-top ableist stereotype or portraying her as the ruthless prima donna tigress the media painted her as.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024

“La donna è mobile”? That’s about how milk squirts out your nose if you happen to laugh at exactly the wrong time.

From New York Times • May 5, 2023

On the back of such stories, Andrews was given a slew of lionising monikers: "prima donna in pigtails," "infant prodigy of trills," "the miracle voice" and "Britain's juvenile coloratura."

From Salon • Oct. 10, 2022

Ahead of her debut in Broadway’s ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘Glee’ star Lea Michele discussed the allegations about her microaggressions and prima donna behavior.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2022

It’s a pretext for being a prima donna.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini