Forms of address in Spain
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This article includes the list of forms of address used in Spain.
Abbreviations
[edit]- His/Her Majesty (Su Majestad): HM (SM)
- His/Her Royal Highness (Su Alteza Real): HRH (SAR)
- The Most Excellent (Excelentísimo Señor / Excelentísima Señora): The Most Ext (Excmo. Sr. / Excma. Sra.)
- The Most Illustrious (Ilustrísimo Señor / Ilustrísima Señora): The Most Ill (Ilmo. Sr. / Ilma. Sra.)
- The Most Reverend (Reverendísimo Señor): The Most Rev (Rev. Sr.)
- Lord (Don): Lord (D.)
Royalty
[edit]| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | HM The King (SM El Rey) |
Your Majesty (Majestad) |
Your Majesty, and thereafter as Sir (Señor) |
| Queen | HM The Queen (SM La Reina) |
Your Majesty (Majestad) |
Your Majesty, and thereafter as Ma'am (Señora) |
| Prince of Asturias | HRH The Prince of Asturias (SAR El Príncipe de Asturias) |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Sir (Señor) |
| Princess of Asturias | HRH The Princess of Asturias (SAR La Princesa de Asturias) |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Ma'am (Señora) |
| Infante | HRH The Infante X (SAR El Infante X) e.g., HRH The Infante Alfonso |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Sir (Señor) |
| Titled Infante | HRH The Infante X, Duke of Z (SAR El Infante X, Duque de Z) e.g., HRH The Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Sir (Señor) |
| Wife of an Infante (if a Princess by birth) |
HRH The Infanta Y (SAR La Infanta Y) e.g., HRH The Infanta Luisa |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Ma'am (Señora) |
| Wife of an Infante (if not a Princess by birth) |
The Most Ext Doña Y (Excma. Sra. Doña Y) e.g., The Most Ext Doña Marisol de Messía |
Excelentísima Señora | Ma'am (Señora) |
| Wife of a titled Infante (if a Princess by birth) |
HRH The Infanta Y, Duchess of Z (SAR La Infanta Y, Duquesa de Z) e.g., HRH The Infanta Ana, Duchess of Calabria |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Ma'am (Señora) |
| Wife of a titled Infante (if not a Princess by brith) |
The Most Ext The Duchess of Z (Excma. Sra. Duquesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Countess of Covadonga |
Excelentisima Señora | Duchess/Marquise/Countess or Doña Name |
| Infanta | HRH The Infanta Y (SAR La Infante Y) e.g., HRH The Infanta Beatriz |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Ma'am (Señora) |
| Titled Infanta | HRH The Infanta Y, Duchess of Z (SAR La Infanta Y, Duquesa de Z) e.g., HRH The Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo |
Your Royal Highness (Alteza Real) |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as Ma'am (Señora) |
| Husband of an Infanta | Mr. X (Sr. Don X) e.g., Mr. José Güell |
Dear Mr. X (Querido Don X) |
Don X |
| Husband of a titled Infanta | The Most Ext The Duke of Z (Excmo. Sr. Duque de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Duke of Palma de Mallorca |
Excelentísimo Señor | Duke/Marquis/Count or Don Name |
| Infante's or Infanta's son | The Most Ext Don X (Excmo. Sr. Don X) e.g., The Most Ext Don Juan Valentín Urdangarín |
Excelentísimo Señor | Don Name |
| Infante's or Infanta's daughter | The Most Ext Doña Y (Excma. Sra. Doña Y) e.g., The Most Ext Doña Victoria de Marichalar |
Excelentísima Señora | Doña Name |
Nobility
[edit]| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | The Most Ext The Duke of Z (Excmo. Sr. Duque de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Duke of Medina Sidonia |
Excelentísimo Señor | Duke or Don Name |
| Duchess | The Most Ext The Duchess of Z (Excma. Sra. Duquesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Duchess of Alba |
Excelentísima Señora | Duchess or Doña Name |
| Marquis Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Marquis of Z (Excmo. Sr. Marqués de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Marquis of Villanueva del Duero |
Excelentísimo Señor | Marquis or Don Name |
| Marquise Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Marquise of Z (Excma. Sra. Marquesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Marquise of Santa Cruz |
Excelentísima Señora | Marquise or Doña Name |
| Count Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Count of Z (Excmo. Sr. Conde de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Count of Latores |
Excelentísimo Señor | Count or Don Name |
| Countess Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Countess of Z (Excma. Sra. Condesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Countess of Murillo |
Excelentísima Señora | Countess or Doña Name |
| Viscount Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Viscount of Z (Excmo. Sr. Vizconde de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Viscount of la Alborada |
Excelentísimo Señor | Viscount or Don Name |
| Viscountess Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Viscountess of Z (Excma. Sra. Vizcondesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Viscountess of la Alborada |
Excelentísima Señora | Viscountess or Doña Name |
| Baron Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Baron of Z (Excmo. Sr. Barón de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Baron of Llauri |
Excelentísimo Señor | Baron or Don Name |
| Baroness Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Baroness of Z (Excma. Sra. Baronesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Baroness of Viver |
Excelentísima Señora | Baroness or Doña Name |
| Lord Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Lord of Z (Excmo. Sr. Señor de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Lord of Meirás |
Excelentísimo Señor | Lord or Don Name |
| Lady Grandee of Spain | The Most Ext The Lady of Z (Excma. Sra. Señora de Z) e.g., The Most Ext The Lady of Meirás |
Excelentísima Señora | Lady or Doña Name |
| Marquis | The Most Ill The Marquis of Z (Ilmo. Sr. Marqués de Z) e.g., The Most Ill The Marquis of Boadilla del Monte |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Marquis or Don Name |
| Marquise | The Most Ill The Marquise of Z (Ilma. Sra. Marquesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ill The Marquise of Cubas |
Ilustrísima Señora | Marquise or Doña Name |
| Count | The Most Ill The Count of Z (Ilmo. Sr. Conde de Z) e.g., The Most Ill The Count of Motrico |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Count or Don Name |
| Countess | The Most Ill The Countess of Z (Ilma. Sra. Condesa de Z) e.g., The Most Ill The Countess of Castillo Fiel |
Ilustrísima Señora | Countess or Doña Name |
| Viscount | The Most Ill The Viscount of Z (Ilmo. Sr. Vizconde de Z) e.g., The Most Ill The Viscount of Santa Clara de Avedillo |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Viscount or Don Name |
| Viscountess | The Most Ill The Viscountess of Z (Ilma. Sra. Vizcondesa de Z) |
Ilustrísima Señora | Viscountess or Doña Name |
| Baron | The Most Ill The Baron of Z (Ilmo. Sr. Barón de Z) |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Baron or Don Name |
| Baroness | The Most Ill The Baroness of Z (Ilma. Sra. Baronesa de Z) |
Ilustrísima Señora | Baroness or Doña Name |
| Lord | The Most Ill The Lord of Z (Ilmo. Sr. Señor de Z) |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Lord or Don Name |
| Lady | The Most Ill The Lady of Z (Ilma. Sra. Señora de Z) |
Ilustrísima Señora | Lady or Doña Name |
| Grandee's male heir | The Most Ext Don X (Excmo. Sr. Don X) |
Excelentísimo Señor | Don Name |
| Grandee's female heir | The Most Ext Doña Y (Excma. Sra. Doña Y) |
Excelentísima Señora | Doña Name |
| Grandee's younger son | The Most Ill Don X (Ilmo. Sr. Don X) |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Don Name |
| Grandee's younger daughter | The Most Ill Doña Y (Ilma. Sra. Doña Y) |
Ilustrísima Señora | Doña Name |
| Male heir of a titled noble (no Grandee) |
The Most Ill Don X (Ilmo. Sr. Don X) |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Don Name |
| Female heir of a titled noble (no Grandee) |
The Most Ill Doña Y (Ilma. Sra. Doña Y) |
Ilustrísima Señora | Doña Name |
Kinght and Dames of the Royal Orders
[edit]The three preeminent orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain are, sorted by year of creation, the Order of Charles III (established in 1771), the Order of Isabella the Catholic (established in 1815), and the Order of Civil Merit (established in 1926). Members of these three orders are addressed as follows.[1]
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight of the Collar | The Most Ext (Excmo. Sr.) |
Excelentísimo Señor | Excelencia |
| Dame of the Collar | The Most Ext (Excma. Sra.) |
Excelentísima Señora | Excelencia |
| Knight Grand Cross | The Most Ext (Excmo. Sr.) |
Excelentísimo Señor | Excelencia |
| Dame Grand Cross | The Most Ext (Excma. Sra.) |
Excelentísima Señora | Excelencia |
| Knight Commander by Number | The Most Ext (Excmo. Sr.) |
Ilustrísimo Señor | Don (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Dame Commander by Number | The Most Ext (Excma. Sra.) |
Ilustrísima Señora | Doña (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Knight Commander | Señor (Sr.) |
Señor | Don (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Dame Commander | Señora (Sra.) |
Señora | Doña (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Knight Officer | Señor (Sr.) |
Señor | Don (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Dame Officer | Señora (Sra.) |
Señora | Doña (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Knight Cross | Señor (Sr.) |
Señor | Don (only for Spanish citizens) |
| Dame Cross | Señora (Sra.) |
Señora | Doña (only for Spanish citizens) |
References
[edit]- ^ "BOE-A-1998-26802 Real Decreto 2396/1998, de 6 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Orden del Mérito Civil". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
Sources
[edit]- "Spanish Forms of Address". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- "How do I address the Queen of Spain?". The Wrong Fork. Retrieved 20 November 2017.