after a divorce - Señora or Señorita???
I am a thirty-one year old divorced female with no children. I resumed using my maiden name three-years ago after the divorce. Do I have to continue going by "Señora" or should I be going by "Señorita" since I am unmarried? I was advised by my mother (who is from Panama) that I should continue using "Señora" with my maiden name because I was married before and that changed my status forever. Is this true? I am a Spanish teacher and it confuses my students as to why I go by "Señora" when they know I am not married. I do not want to have to explain to them about my past divorce. Thanks for any explanation!!!
16 Answers
In the strictest use of the word, Señorita means virgin.
Now this is great:
I thought that a señorita was a virgin.
I would really like to know where you get this info from. Señorita is a young woman, nothing to do with being a virgin. I am stunned at such nonsense.
señorita
- f. Término de cortesía que se aplica a la mujer soltera.
- f. Tratamiento de cortesía que se da a maestras de escuela, profesoras, o también a otras muchas mujeres que desempeñan algún servicio, como secretarias, empleadas de la administración o del comercio, etc.
This is the definition of señorita, if you can find something about a virgin there....let me know.
Edreporter, welcome to the forum
This question is easy to answer, as a school teacher, I mean, you even have this in the official definition
, a teacher is: la señorita.
IN any case, I would give my name with it: soy la señorita Pepa. No further explanation, and that is it.
HI!!! In this part of the world - Argentina - it's quite usual to hear "Señora", no matter you don't have kids, you're 31, and though you're still very, very young, you're not a teen anymore. But in schools is different, some kids call their teachers "Señorita", and they are much older than you and have a huge family!! hahaha... In my opinion, it's up to you... whatever makes you feel confortable is ok... You just tell them... Yo soy la señorita de Español o Yo soy la señora de Español and they will have to accept that as it is... no further explanations.
Hope it helps!!
Apparently some people don't use marriage as a criterion: link
What an interesting discussion! In my part of Spain - Andalucia - it is accepted that if a Señora is considered to be attractive she can still be addressed as Señorita!! Mind you I think this may have a certain element of flirting attached to it!
In the strictest use of the word, Señorita means virgin. But in real-life usage, you should still refer to yourself as such. I know women in Mexican culture who have been divorced, no children, considerably older than you, and are still called Señorita.Obviously having children would change that.
If a señorita is a female virgin, is a señorito a male virgin?
Hi edreporter
What a great question. Unfortunately being English and still married to a señora, I cannot offer any constructive advice. It would appear by the replies that you could use either depending on the country and region. I thought, however, I should congratulate you on an very interesting question.
How awkward this is! Never thought of it before. I only know the general rule that any woman starting with the age of 20 can be addressed as ''missis'' or ''señora'' without offending. But appearently it's not the rule for all the cultures
Are there differences for using ''señorita'' and ''señora'' between Spain and Latin America?
I've been corrected for calling a Señorita Señora but never for calling a Señora Señorita.
If a señorita is a female virgin, is a señorito a male virgin?
Around here, señorito means transvestite.
If a señorita is a female virgin, is a señorito a male virgin?
Martini, good joke.
I thought that a señorita was a virgin. Your a señora when you get married. So when you get a divorce, you should still be a señora because your no longer a virgin. Am I thinking this right or not?
I know Señora is a proper term for an olser woman. You are 15 years old. Most Hispanic women smile and get cordial after being addressed as Señora. Is a real and stable man, with a similar background, going to ask out Señorita Gomez or Señora Gomez? Señoritia in the stricktest sense does require a chapparon. Believe that one. Do you need a chapparon? I do not mean to be insulting. It is a pertinant question.
Muchas Gracias por su pregunta? Mi ideas de el tema para son Clases de Español en collegio y encuentro hispanicos en publico. ¡Usa Señora! Thanks for your question. My ideas on the subject are from Spanish Classes in High School and meeting Hispanics in public. Use Senora!
I think there is a tendency, also in Spanish, to use mostly the "señorita" term. I'd refer to a divorced woman this way.
