Here's why and how to address married women in Portuguese:
* No "Mrs." title: Portuguese doesn't have a separate title like "Mrs." for married women. You wouldn't use "Mrs. Silva" like in English.
* "Dona" for respect: You would typically use the title "Dona" (pronounced "DOH-nah") before a woman's name to show respect, regardless of her marital status.
* "Senhora" for formality: "Senhora" (pronounced "say-NYOH-rah") is a more formal way to address a woman, also regardless of marital status.
* Using the husband's last name: In some formal situations, you might include the husband's last name after the woman's name, but this is less common than using "Dona" or "Senhora."
Examples:
* Informal: "Dona Maria"
* Formal: "Senhora Maria Silva"
Remember, "Dona" and "Senhora" are titles of respect, not indicators of marital status.