Forms of address in Spain

This article includes the list of forms of address used in Spain.

Abbreviations

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  • 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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "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

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