Sahib Was a Title of Respect in Colonial India
Sahib is a respectful form of address used in South Asia. Its history is bound up with the British presence in India.
Sahib is a respectful term of address in South Asia, roughly equivalent to sir. Arabic *sahib* means a companion or friend, and it passed through Persian and Urdu into everyday Indian usage as an honorific. Under British rule it became the standard form of address for European men, which is why it carries a colonial charge in English that it does not carry in its home languages. *Memsahib*, from *ma'am* plus *sahib*, was used for European women.
- A respectful address. *Yes, sahib.*
- Memsahib — for a European woman. *Memsahib.*
- Pukka sahib — a proper gentleman. *A pukka sahib.*
- Arabic — *sahib*, a companion. *The source.*
- Urdu, Persian — the route to English. *Through Urdu.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | sahib | Sahib. |
| Plural | sahibs | Sahibs. |
| Feminine | memsahib | Memsahib. |
| Phrase | pukka sahib | Pukka sahib. |
| Arabic | sahib | A companion. |
- He was addressed as sahib.Respect.
- Memsahib combines ma'am and sahib.Formation.
- Sahib means companion in Arabic.Etymology.
Words English took from South Asia
- Sahib — a respectful address
- Pukka — genuine or first-rate, from Hindi *pakka*
- Bungalow — from *bangla*, a Bengali-style house
- Juggernaut — from a temple car at Puri
- Loot — from Hindi *lut*, plunder
Urdu and Hindi *sahib*, from Persian, from Arabic *sahib*, a companion or friend.
What does sahib mean literally?
A companion or friend, in Arabic. It became an honorific meaning roughly sir as it passed through Persian and Urdu.
What is a memsahib?
A respectful term for a European woman in colonial India, formed from English ma'am plus sahib.