Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| श्रीमान | śrīmān | /ʃɾiː.mɑːn/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| श्री | śrī | /ʃɾiː/ (Hindi, Standard) /sɾiː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
|
| साहिब | sāhib | /sɑː.ɦɪb/ (Hindi, Standard) /sɑː.ɦəb/ (Hindi, Standard) |
masculine |
| साहब | sāhab | masculine |
श्रीमान is a formal title used to address or refer to an adult male, often used in official correspondence or formal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The word श्रीमान is composed of the honorific prefix श्री meaning 'auspicious' or 'radiant' and the suffix मान meaning 'possessing' or 'endowed with'.
Which one should you use?
While श्रीमान is a standalone noun meaning 'mister', the shorter form श्री is typically used as a prefix before a person's name, similar to how 'Mr.' is used in English. Additionally, the forms साहिब and साहब are used to address men of authority or social standing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard formal term for 'Mister' in Hindi is श्री. Mahoday is a formal title for men used as an equivalent for 'Mister'. In spoken Hindi, साहब is a common colloquial way to address a man or refer to a man of authority. साहिब is also used to show respect to someone in a position of authority or social standing.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided in this pack are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
śrīmān (/ʃɾiː.mɑːn/)
When do people say it?
The form साहिब is a loanword from Arabic/Persian that is frequently used in Hindi to show respect to someone in a position of authority or social standing.
Did you know?
- While श्री is used for men, it is also used as a title for women and goddesses in Hindi and Sanskrit, as it refers to wealth and prosperity rather than gender.
- The word साहिब is a linguistic traveler that originated in Arabic as صَاحِب, meaning 'companion' or 'friend', before entering Persian and eventually Hindi to denote a person of authority.
- In some traditional contexts, श्री is used as a prefix for sacred books or deities, acting more like a spiritual honorific than a social title.
Examples in context
- क्या आप श्रीमान वर्मा हैं?Kya aap shreemaan Verma hain?Are you Mr. Verma?
- श्रीमान गुप्ता कल नहीं आए।Shreemaan Gupta kal nahi aaye.Mr. Gupta did not come yesterday.
Example conversation
Pooja is meeting a new client at an office.
- पूजा Poojaनमस्ते, क्या आप श्रीमान खन्ना हैं?Namaste, kya aap shreemaan Khanna hain?Hello, are you Mr. Khanna?
- राहुल Rahulहाँ, मैं ही खन्ना हूँ।Haan, main hi Khanna hoon.Yes, I am Khanna.
- पूजा Poojaआपसे मिलकर बहुत खुशी हुई।Aapse milkar bahut khushi hui.It is a pleasure to meet you.
- राहुल Rahulधन्यवाद, पूजा जी।Dhanyavaad, Pooja ji.Thank you, Ms. Pooja.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mister” translations and entries श्रीमान, श्री, साहिब, साहब, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries श्री, श्रीमान, साहिब, CC BY-SA 4.0.
