Definition
A woman who is the principal or head administrator of a school, especially in British schools.
Etymology
From 'head' (chief, from Old English) and 'mistress' (a woman in authority, from Old French 'maistresse'). The term developed when schools began appointing women to leadership roles, usually in all-girls schools.
Kelly Says
The term 'headmistress' exists only for female leaders, while male leaders get 'headmaster'—this gendered language is fading as schools use neutral terms like 'principal' or 'head.' But in British tradition, the title still carries a powerful image of stern, dignified authority.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
superintendent
soo-per-in-ten-den-t
ARالعربية
مديرة المدرسة
mada-ri-rat al-madrasah
BNবাংলা
প্রধান শিক্ষিকা
pro-dha-na shik-shi-ka
CACatalà
directora
dee-rek-to-ra
CSČeština
ředitelka
zhed-i-tel-ka
DEDeutsch
Schulleiterin
shchool-ly-ter-in
ELΕλληνικά
Διευθύντρια
dee-ef-th-noo-tree-ah
ESEspañol
directora
dee-rek-toh-ra
FAفارسی
مدیر مدرسه
moo-di-r mad-raseh
FRFrançais
directrice
dee-rek-triss
GUGU
શિક્ષણ શિક્ષિકા
shik-shan shik-shi-ka
HAHA
Mataimakin
ma-ta-i-ma-kin
HIहिन्दी
प्रधानाचार्या
pra-dha-na-acharya
HUMagyar
igazgatónő
ee-ga-zga-ta-no
IDBahasa Indonesia
kepala sekolah
ke-pa-la se-ko-loh
ITItaliano
dirigente scolastica
dee-ree-jen-teh sko-las-tee-ka
KMKM
ប្រធានសាលា
pra-thaa-n sa-la
MRMR
प्राचार्या
pra-cha-arya
MSBahasa Melayu
Pengetua
pen-ge-tua
MYမြန်မာ
ကျောင်းမှူး
kyawng-ma-hoo
NLNederlands
schooldirectrice
school-dee-rek-triss
PAPA
ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੀਪਾਲ
prin-si-paal
PLPolski
dyrektorka
dee-rek-tor-ka
PTPortuguês
diretora
dee-reh-toh-ra
RORomână
directoare
dee-rek-toh-reh
RUРусский
директорша
dee-rek-tor-sha
SWKiswahili
Mkuu wa Shule
m-koo wa sh-oo-le
TAதமிழ்
பள்ளி தலைவி
palli tha-lai-vi
TEతెలుగు
ప్రధానాధ్యాపకుర
pra-dha-na-adhya-pa-ku-ra
THไทย
ผู้อำนวยการ
foo am-nuay-gaan
TLTL
Punongguro
poo-nung-guro
TRTürkçe
okul müdürü
o-kool moo-doo-roo
UKУкраїнська
директорка
dee-rek-tor-ka
URاردو
مہتمسہ
meh-ta-mis-ah
VITiếng Việt
Hiệu trưởng
hEE-f truong
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Headmistress historically marked subordinate or younger institutional roles, while 'headmaster' conveyed authority. Institutional hierarchies gendered leadership titles, often reserving prestige for men.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'head' or 'head of school' unless the person's own identification uses gendered title.
Inclusive Alternatives
["head","principal","head of school"]
Empowerment Note
Women educators pioneered institutional leadership; gendered titles obscured their authority. Modern usage should center individual identity.