<P> Don (Spanish: (don), Italian: (dɔn), Portuguese: Dom (dõ), from Latin dominus, roughly' Lord'), abbreviated as D., is an honorific title used in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Iberoamerica, and the Philippines . </P> <P> The female equivalent is Doña (Spanish: (ˈdoɲa)), Donna (Italian: (ˈdɔnna)), and Dona (Portuguese: (ˈdonɐ)), abbreviated Da, Da., or simply D . </P> <P> Although originally a title reserved for royalty, select nobles, and church hierarchs, it is now often used as a mark of esteem for a person of personal, social or official distinction, such as a community leader of long standing, a person of significant wealth, or a noble, but may also be used ironically . As a style, rather than a title or rank, it is used with, and not instead of, a person's name . </P> <P> Syntactically, it is used in much the same way (although for a broader group of persons) as "Sir" and "Dame" are used in English when speaking of or to a person who has been knighted, e.g. "Don Firstname" or "Doña Firstname Lastname". Unlike "The Honourable" in English, Don may be used when speaking directly to a person, and unlike "Mister" it must be used with a given name . For example, "Don Diego de la Vega," or (abbreviating "señor") "Sr. Don Diego de la Vega," or simply "Don Diego" (the secret identity of Zorro) are typical forms . But a form like "Don de la Vega" is not correct and would never be used by Spanish speakers . "Señor de la Vega" should be used instead . </P>

What does the name don mean in spanish