World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesMemsahib
/ˈmɛmˌsɑː.ɪb/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A respectful title formerly used in colonial India and other parts of South Asia for a European woman or a woman of high social status.
"The servants waited attentively for the memsahib to give her morning instructions." - 2
Sometimes used ironically or historically to describe a woman who behaves in a demanding, authoritative, or excessively privileged manner.
"She acted like a colonial memsahib, expecting everyone else to carry her bags."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Hindi compound 'ma'am' (from English madam) combined with 'sahib' (a polite title of respect of Arabic origin via Urdu and Hindi). It originated during the British Raj in India as a respectful form of address used by native servants and subordinates toward European married women.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Memsahib"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Memsahib" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
madame
Transliteration: ma.dam
"Les domestiques attendaient les ordres de la madame."
Gnädige Frau
Transliteration: ɡnɛːdɪɡə fʁaʊ̯
"Die Bediensteten warteten auf die Befehle der gnädigen Frau."
signora
Transliteration: siˈɲoːra
"La servitù aspettava gli ordini della signora."
señora
Transliteration: seˈɲoɾa
"Los sirvientes esperaban las órdenes de la señora."
senhora
Transliteration: sɨˈɲoɾɐ
"Os empregados aguardavam as ordens da senhora."
मेमसाहिब
Transliteration: memsāhib
"नौकर मेमसाहिब के आने का इंतज़ार कर रहे थे।"
太太
Transliteration: tàitai
"仆人们在等候太太的吩咐。"
안사람
Transliteration: ansaram
"하인들이 안사람의 지시를 기다렸다."
奥様
Transliteration: okusama
"使用人たちは奥様のご指示を待っていた。"
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