Everything about Don Honorific totally explained
Don, from
Latin dominus, is a
Spanish (
pron. ) and
Portuguese (
Dom, ) honorific title. It is usually used as a mark of high esteem for a distinguished
Christian hidalgo or
fidalgo; that is, a
nobleman.
The honorific was also used among
Ladino-speaking
Sephardi Jews, as part of the Spanish culture which they took with them after the
Expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.
Its abbreviation, particularly in Portuguese, is "D." It is still used in reference to
priests, like the
French Dom. The treatment was reserved for those who had royal or some higher old noble ancestry, as well as some title bearers who had their title without needing but the King's confirmation instead of authorization, the so called titles
de Juro e Herdade. In Brazil it wasn't used in reference to nobles, but was used to refer to royals (both to the monarch and to princes), and, in the ranks of the clergy, it's only used to refer to Bishops or other senior ecclesiastical hierachs.
The use is roughly comparable to the style
The Honourable of British custom, but closer to
Lord or
Lady, although the analogy is a loose one, at best. The female version is
Doña (Spanish, pron. IPA: ['d̪o.ɲa]) and
Dona (Portuguese, pron. IPA: ['do.nɐ]) abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D.".
The traditional usage of the
honorific is Don for the Royals, Grandees of Spain and his relatives, and don as a courtesy respectful treatment for everyone else of some position. In Portugal, the feminine form has been used as a compliment for elderly women irrespectively of birth and rank, but is often seen as an ageing treatment.
Don/Dom or Doña/Dona is attached to a person's
given name. It is generally preceded by the acronym Sr. (for Señor): 'Sr. Don Diego de la Vega,' 'Don Diego de la Vega,' or simply 'Don Diego' (the secret identity of
Zorro). Attachment to the surname without the given name, for example 'Don de la Vega,' is incorrect.
Nowadays it's often used as a standard form of address in Spain, similarly as Mister is in
English. In Spain the title is sometimes used to refer to a graduate of High School.
In some
Latin American countries, Don/Dom or Doña/Dona is used to refer to wealthy influential people as a substitute to the more common "Señor" or "Señora".
In
Italy, it's the
style to address a
noble (as distinct from
reigning) prince (
principe) or duke (
duca), and their children and
agnatic descendants. Its feminine is
donna. It is also used to refer to a priest, or, less commonly, to monks.
In
North America, Don is sometimes used as an honorific for a
Mafia crime boss, having its origins on the same honorific treatment came from Southern Italy, where Spanish influence was significant.
At Oxford and Cambridge universities, members of the academic staff are sometimes referred to as a Don - a remnant of the time when these universities were considered religious institutions and their staff a kind of clergy. In practice within Oxford it's used to refer to
fellows of the colleges. At Cambridge it's rarely, if ever, used. This usage is remnant of the time.
Further Information
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