Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hanımefendi | /hɑn.ɯmeˈfæn.di/ (standard) /hɑmˈfæn.di/ |
| madam | /maˈdam/ |
hanımefendi is used as a respectful way to address a woman whose name you do not know in public settings. The loanword madam is also used, though it is often found in specific contexts such as literature or formal titles.
Which one should you use?
hanımefendi is the standard, native Turkish term for 'madam', whereas madam is a loanword often used in more specific contexts like formal titles or in literature.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using a title with a person's name, the shortened form Hanım is used (for example, Ayşe Hanım), whereas hanımefendi is used as a standalone address.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /hɑn.ɯmeˈfæn.di/. It has 4 syllables with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The sounds are as follows: [h]ome for /h/, [n]ot for /n/, somewhat like ribb[o]n for /ɯ/, [m]uch for /m/, [f]ood for /f/, c[a]t for /æ/ and cr[ee]k for /i/.
Did you know?
- The term hanımefendi is a linguistic hybrid that pairs a word for 'lady' with a word traditionally used to address a gentleman.
- If you want to be polite but still sound like a local, always place the name first and the title second, such as 'Ayşe Hanım'. Reversing this to 'Hanım Ayşe' would sound very strange to a native ear.
- While hanım means 'lady', it is also the standard word for 'wife' in many contexts, meaning a polite address can double as a reference to a person's marital status.
Examples in context
- "Günaydın hanımefendi" dedi Holmes neşeyle."Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily.This sentence shows a cheerful greeting using hanımefendi.Tatoeba #6622122 by deyta, translation #6620812 by Hybrid
- Madam Rodriguez deneme yazımı görmek istemedi mi?Didn't madam Rodriguez want to see my essay?This sentence demonstrates the use of madam as a formal title with a surname.Tatoeba #3316777 by deyta, translation #434500 by lukaszpp
- Affedersiniz hanımefendi, önünüzde böyle ağlıyor olmaktan utandım ama gözyaşlarıma hakim olamıyorum.Pardon me, madam, I'm ashamed to be crying like this in front of you, but I can't hold my tears.This sentence shows a polite apology to a woman using hanımefendi.Tatoeba #3303209 by deyta, translation #1331948 by Scott
- Hanımefendi, hoş geldiniz.Madam, welcome.
- Bayan, size nasıl yardımcı olabilirim?Madam, how can I assist you?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre is helping a woman find her way in a store.
- EmreBuyurun hanımefendi, size nasıl yardımcı olabilirim?Yes madam, how can I help you?
- SelinŞu reyonu arıyorum, yerini biliyor musunuz?I am looking for that section, do you know where it is?
- EmreTabii hanımefendi, lütfen beni takip edin.Of course madam, please follow me.
- SelinÇok teşekkür ederim, çok naziksiniz.Thank you very much, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “madam” translations and entries hanımefendi, madam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hanımefendi, madam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
