Don (honorific)

Don (Spanish / Italian) and Dom ( Portuguese) is a polite, respectful salutation (from the Latin: dominus - lord, master of the house ), which is also used as a title. The female form is Doña (Spanish ), Donna (Italian ) and Dona (Portuguese ) ( for Latin: dominatrix - mistress, mistress of the house ).

Use in Spanish-speaking

In the Spanish language area the address is needed to don or doña especially against (older) members and most importantly the family heads of influential families.

In Spain itself this form of address is often associated with titles of nobility (such as the Hidalgo ) connected, where the name and before "don / doña " prepended. Even the current king is addressed as don Juan Carlos I, the Prince Don Carlos has been the subject of several literary and musical works. It is common to use Don with the first name or the full name. It is quite common in Spain, to address themselves very highly placed people as the king with the name, if the don is prefixed. The use of don alone with the last name, however, is perceived as rude and uncultured. If only the name or don doña used, this can be interpreted as contempt.

Spread the salutation is don in Latin America, where the parents or grandparents are addressed as hosts with this title, in which the female form is particularly common. Also, employees and guests speak the hosts mostly to do with the title.

Use in the Portuguese -speaking world

In Portugal, the salutation Cathedral is less common. However, as the caregiver, as well as in the Spanish language area more frequently in use and is compared to older women. The Salutation cathedral itself is used only for clergy of high rank as bishops and abbots.

In Brazil, the salutation with cathedral is also used. So Archbishop Dom Hélder Câmara, the Brazilian was always named with this salutation.

In Portuguese Timor, the form of address for the local petty kings who Liurais was used.

Use in Italy

In Italy, the salutation Don for clergy is needed (even for ordinary priests ), partly also for (former) nobles. Even abroad, the novels Giovanni Guareschi over the fictional priest Don Camillo have widespread.

Use in French-speaking

In French-speaking areas of the title is partly used for Catholic priests. So living in the 17th and 18th century Benedictine monk Pierre Pérignon is called Dom Pérignon.