Language 205them in response to their use of tú with you!), or when
servants speak to employers and vice versa. To use a
famous example, Don Quixote used tú when speaking with
Sancho Panza, his manservant, but Sancho always used
Vuestra Merced with Don Quixote, his master. This example
is of course from 17th century Spanish literature, but the
principle is still valid in Chile today.
The term Don comes from the phrase De Origen Noble (of
noble origin). It replaces the title Señor. Today in Chile the
terms Don and Doña (for women) are used to show respect.
Placed before the person’s first name, they are often used
to show extreme respect when addressing someone with
a remarkably important position, such as ambassador,
minister or other high offices. Though it reflects a level
of intimacy, it would be perfectly acceptable to address,
for example, former President Lagos as Don Ricardo. It is
also used to show respect even if social status is not that
different. Empleadas and nanas always address their male
employers as Don and female employers as Doña or Señora.
If the empleada is older, she will, in turn, be addressed as
Doña or Señora. An office worker may use Don to address