सर
sareveryday, English loanword
In Hindi people say सर (sar) for "sir" in schools and offices. साहब (sāhab) is another respectful address for a man. It is also called श्रीमान (shrīmān).
Meaning: a respectful title for a man (noun)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| सर | sar | everyday, English loanword |
| साहब | sāhab | respectful, Urdu origin |
| श्रीमान | shrīmān | formal, written |
सर is used with teachers, managers and officers. साहब also works for a boss or an official, and is often added after a name, like शर्मा साहब (Sharmā sāhab).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
श्रीमान (shrīmān) opens formal letters and applications, like "Dear Sir".
Did you know?
- Women teachers are usually addressed as मैडम (maiḍam) and not सर.
Examples in context
- जी सर, मैं अभी आता हूँ।Jī sar, main abhī ātā hūn.Yes sir, I am coming right now.
- शर्मा साहब अभी दफ़्तर में नहीं हैं।Sharmā sāhab abhī daftar mein nahīn hain.Mr Sharma is not in the office right now.
Example conversation
A student asks a teacher a question in a school in Bhubaneswar.
- Studentसर, क्या मैं एक सवाल पूछ सकता हूँ?Sar, kyā main ek sawāl pūchh saktā hūn?Sir, may I ask a question?
- Teacherहाँ, पूछो।Hān, pūchho.Yes, ask.
- Studentधन्यवाद सर।Dhanyawād sar.Thank you, sir.
