A duennaAn older woman who supervises or accompanies a younger woman in public. is an older woman who acts as a chaperoneA person who accompanies and oversees someone, often to protect propriety., especially for a younger woman. The word is formal and somewhat old-fashionedNo longer common in modern use; associated with an earlier period..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /doo-EN-uh/
Easy pronunciation: doo-EN-uh (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the second syllable.
Used in the sense of a woman chaperon.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Duenna Meaning
an older woman who accompanies and supervises a younger woman, especially in a formal or old-fashioned setting
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a woman chaperon
Example: At the dance, her aunt served as a duenna to keep an eye on her.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use duenna as if it means any older woman, but it specifically means a chaperone.
- It is often associated with old-fashioned or literary contexts, not everyday modern speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does duenna mean?
A duenna is an older woman who acts as a chaperone, especially for a younger woman.
Is duenna still used today?
Yes, but it is uncommon and usually appears in literary, historical, or formal writing.
What part of speech is duenna?
Duenna is a noun.
What is a simple synonym for duenna?
Chaperone is the closest simple synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
