Señor
/seɪˈnjɔːr/noun
A Spanish-speaking man, or a Spanish title of respect equivalent to “Mr.” or “sir.”
Did you know?The ñ in señor developed from the medieval scribal abbreviation of double n in Old Spanish sennor, preserving a sound that began in Latin senior.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sen-
“Old; aged”
Classical Latin
Latin
senex
“An old man or elder”
Classical Latin
Latin
senior
“Older; the comparative form of senex”
Late Latin
Late Latin
senior
“An elder, superior, or person of higher status”
Medieval Spanish
Old Spanish
sennor
“Lord, master, or respectful title for a man”
15th–16th Century
Spanish
señor
“Lord, sir, or respected man; the ñ spelling became established”
Modern English
English
señor
“A Spanish-speaking man or Spanish title of respect”