Spanish to English

don

USAGE NOTE
In Spanish-speaking countries, "don" is often used as a title of respect with a man's name. When it is used with a first name only, it is not translated directly as shown in sense 1c).
don(
dohn
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g. el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
1. (form of address; used with first or full names)
a. Mr.
Tengo una cita con don Carlos Jiménez a las dos.I have an appointment with Mr. Carlos Jiménez at two.
b. Esq. (in correspondence)
Sr. Don Ángel DomínguezÁngel Domínguez, Esq.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Recibí una carta de don Pedro.I received a letter from Peter.
Don Pablo, ya puede pasar al despacho.Pablo, if you'd like to go into the office now, sir.
2.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(before a common noun)
a. Mr.
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
¡Mira quién habló, don Perfecto!Look who's talking, Mr. Perfect!
b. Mr (United Kingdom)
Aquí don Videojuegos no aparta los ojos de la pantalla.Mr Videogames here can't take his eyes off the screen.
3. (ability)
a. gift
Tiene un don especial para tratar con la gente problemática.She has a special gift for dealing with problematic people.
b. talent
Tiene un don para el violín.She has a special talent for the violin.
4.
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
(literary)
(present)
a. gift
Los tres Reyes de Oriente portaban dones para el nuevo Mesías.The Three Kings from the East bore gifts for the new Messiah.
5.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(term of address)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. buddy
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
¿En qué puedo servirle, don?How can I help you, buddy?
b. mate
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(United Kingdom)
¿Cuántos quiere, don?How many do you want, mate?
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc.
don
masculine noun
1. (tratamiento)
  • don Andrés Iturbe Mr Andrés Iturbe; Andrés Iturbe Esquire (en cartas)
  • don Andrés Mr Iturbe
2. gift (habilidad)
  • don de mando leadership qualities
  • tener el don de la palabra to have the gift of speech; (cualidad humana) to be a gifted speaker (de orador)
  • tener don de gentes to have a way with people
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
don
1 (talento) gift
tiene un don especial para la música she has a special gift for music; tiene don con los niños she has a way with children
don de gentes
tener don de gentes to know how to handle people; be good with people
tiene don de gentes
don de lenguas gift for languages
don de mando leadership qualities
plural
; (p)
(Mil) generalship
don de palabra gift of the gab (familiar); gift of gab (familiar); (EEUU)
2 (deseo) wish
el hada le concedió tres dones the fairy gave him three wishes
3 (regalo) gift
don
1 (tratamiento de cortesía)
Don (en carta, sobre) Esquire; Sr. Don Fernando García (en correspondencia) Mr F. García; Fernando García Esq.; ¿habéis visto a don Fernando? have you seen Mr García?; es don perfecto, él cree que nunca se equivoca he thinks he's Mr Perfect and never makes a mistake; el rey don Pedro King Peter
2 (Arg) (Col) (tratamiento popular) mate (familiar); buddy (familiar); (EEUU)
A courtesy title, don/doña placed before the first name of an older or more senior man/woman is a way of showing them your respect when talking to them or about them. E.g. "¿Podría hablar con don César Roca?", "Buenos días doña Alicia. ¿Qué tal su viaje?" Although now becoming rarer, in Spain Don and Doña, often abbreviated to D. and Dña., are commonly used before full names on official documents and contracts. In formal correspondence, they are used in combination with Sr., Sra. and Srta., e.g. Sr. D. Bernardo Esplugas Martín, Sra. Dña. Ana Rodríguez.
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Examples
Phrases
Machine Translators
Translate don using machine translators
See Machine Translations
Random Word
Roll the dice and learn a new word now!
Get a Word
Want to Learn Spanish?
Spanish learning for everyone. For free.
SpanishDict Premium
Have you tried it yet? Here's what's included:
Cheat sheets
No ads
Learn offline on iOS
Fun phrasebooks
Learn Spanish faster
Support SpanishDict
Why use the SpanishDict dictionary?

THE BEST SPANISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Get More than a Translation

Get conjugations, examples, and pronunciations for millions of words and phrases in Spanish and English.

WRITTEN BY EXPERTS

Translate with Confidence

Access millions of accurate translations written by our team of experienced English-Spanish translators.

SPANISH AND ENGLISH EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Examples for Everything

Search millions of Spanish-English example sentences from our dictionary, TV shows, and the internet.

REGIONAL TRANSLATIONS

Say It like a Local

Browse Spanish translations from Spain, Mexico, or any other Spanish-speaking country.