Questions & Answers about Bom dia, senhora!
Wait, dia ends in -a. Why does it use the masculine word bom instead of the feminine boa?
Does bom dia literally mean good morning?
Literally, it translates to good day (bom = good, dia = day). However, in Portugal, it is used exactly like good morning in English. You say it from the time you wake up until lunchtime (around noon or 1:00 PM), after which you switch to boa tarde.
Can I use senhora completely by itself like this?
Yes! When speaking directly to an adult woman to be polite, senhora works just like madam or ma'am in English. You can use it alone, or you can add her surname if you know it, such as Bom dia, senhora Silva.
I have seen a senhora before. Why isn't there an a (the) in this greeting?
In Portuguese, we normally put the word a before titles when we are talking about someone (for example, the lady is here). However, when we are greeting or speaking directly to the person, we drop the a.
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