Donna
/ˈdɔn.na/noun
A title of respect for a woman in Italian, or a woman of rank or authority.
Did you know?Italian *donna* descends from Latin *domina*, the feminine form of *dominus* (“master, lord”), so its history is tied to household power and social rule.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dem-
“to build, house, or bind together”
Latin
Latin
domus
“house, home, household”
Latin
Latin
dominus / domina
“master, lord / mistress, lady”
Old Italian
Ital
donna
“lady, woman of rank”
Modern English
English
donna
“an Italian title of respect for a woman”