la doncella
maid
Joven mujer que no se ha casado y suele ser vista como pura o inocente.
Definition & meaning
Doncella is a feminine Spanish noun with several related meanings:
-
Maiden; young unmarried woman
Traditionally, it refers to a young woman who is not married. In modern Spanish, this sense can sound literary, old-fashioned, or poetic.- una doncella hermosa — a beautiful maiden
-
Virgin or chaste young woman
In older or formal contexts, it can emphasize sexual innocence or virginity. This meaning is now less common and may sound archaic. -
Maid; female domestic servant
Historically, doncella referred to a female servant, especially a personal maid or lady’s maid. This use is largely old-fashioned today.- la doncella de la reina — the queen’s maid
-
A type of fish
In some regions, doncella is the common name for certain small marine fish, particularly the Mediterranean rainbow wrasse.
Grammar & Word origin
- Part of speech: feminine noun
- Gender: feminine
- Singular:
- Plural:
- Pronunciation: don-SEH-yah in much of Spain and Latin America; in some areas, the “ll” has a different regional pronunciation.
The word comes from Old Spanish and ultimately from Latin dominicella, a diminutive form related to domina, meaning “lady” or “mistress.” Its historical development explains the connection between the meanings “young lady,” “maiden,” and “female servant.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Depending on the meaning, possible synonyms include:
- — girl or young woman; more everyday and generally less literary than doncella
- — young person or young woman; neutral and does not imply virginity or unmarried status
- — Miss or young woman; a polite modern term, though it does not have the archaic or poetic tone of doncella
- — virgin; more specifically emphasizes sexual purity rather than youth or social status
- — female domestic servant; closer to the servant meaning, but more direct and less literary
- — maid or female servant; usually more explicit about employment
There is no exact antonym for doncella. In the sense of an unmarried young woman, — married woman — can provide a contextual contrast. In the sense of a virgin, or may contrast with it, although these are not strict antonyms.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
La doncella arregló todas las habitaciones del castillo.noun
The maid arranged all the rooms in the castle.
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