How to Address Individuals in Spanish

When studying the Spanish language, one of the first things you should learn is how to address individuals in Spanish. By properly addressing the people you meet, you will gain their respect and appreciation.

Instructions

1. Address people individually. When addressing individuals by their surname, use "Senor" for a man and "Senora" for a married, or older woman. Younger women are generally addressed with "Senorita" which translates in English to "Miss."

2. Use professional titles. It's considered respectful to refer to those in professional occupations by their title. For example, a doctor would be "Doctor" and a professor would be "Professor" with the accent on the last syllable.

3. Acknowledge those individuals that are commonly accorded respect. Coaches and teachers are admired in all cultures and often addressed by their title, as opposed to their surname. Use "Entrenador" for a male coach or "Entrenadora" for a female coach. "Maestro" is used for a male primary school teacher and "Maestra" is proper for a female teacher. "Director" with the accent on the last syllable is also used to address those particular individuals in Spanish.

4. Learn the polite form of address. In Spanish, people you just meet or those in positions of authority should be addressed formally as opposed to casually. For example, when saying "you" to an individual in Spanish who you just met, it would be polite to use the more formal "usted," rather than "tu."

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish