dona
1 Americannoun
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(initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: a Portuguese title prefixed to a woman's given name.
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(in Portuguese-speaking countries) a lady or gentlewoman.
noun
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(initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: a Spanish title prefixed to a woman's given name.
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(in Spanish-speaking countries) a lady or gentlewoman.
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of dona1
1615–25; < Portuguese < Latin domina, feminine of dominus
Origin of doña2
1615–25; < Spanish < Latin domina, feminine of dominus
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That Tânia Maria also recently starred in humorous local commercials for Burger King and Heineken is proof of her current status in Brazilian pop culture — as are the Dona Sebastiana costumes that have become popular during this year’s Carnival.
From Los Angeles Times
Niwunhellage Dona Nirodha Kalapni Niwunhella, known as Nirodha, 32, died at the scene at South Morgan Place in Riverside, Cardiff, on 21 August 2025.
From BBC
Marcelo hides out in a compound run by Dona Sebastiana, played by 78-year-old breakout star Tânia Maria.
From Los Angeles Times
“Kleber doesn’t spoon-feed people. One thing that I like about this film is that it doesn’t answer all the questions. I love when Dona Sebastiana says, ‘I did three things in Italy and I will never tell what they are.’
From Los Angeles Times
But Marina quickly picked up Spanish and emerged as a key advisor to the Spaniards, who were soon referring to her as “Doña Marina,” an honorific of respect.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
