donzela

Old Galician-Portuguese

Alternative forms

• donçela
• donsela

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin *domnicella, from Latin domina. Compare Old Occitan donçela.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /don.ˈd͡zɛ.la/

Noun

donzela f (plural donzelas)

1. maiden, damsel, young unmarried woman
   • 13th century, Cancioneiro da Biblioteca Nacional, Alfonso X of Castile, B 476: Non quer'eu donzela fea (facsimile)

     Non quereu donzela fea

     I do not want an ugly maiden

Descendants

• Galician: doncela
• Portuguese: donzela

Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese donzela, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella, from Latin domina. Compare Old Occitan donçela, Spanish doncella, French demoiselle.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dõˈzɛ.lɐ/

• Hyphenation: don‧ze‧la

Noun

donzela f (plural donzelas, masculine donzelo, masculine plural donzelos)

1. maiden, damsel

   Donzela em apuros ― Damsel in distress

2. maid, handmaid