Indian honorifics

Indian honorifics are honorific titles or appendices to names used in India, covering formal and informal relationships for social, commercial, spiritual and generational links. Honorifics may be prefix, suffix or replacement types.

Contents

Prefix type

The most common honorifics in India are usually placed immediately before the name of the subject. Honorifics which can be used of any adult of the appropriate sex include "Sri" (also written as Shri), "Smt" (read as srimati) and "Kum" (read as kumari).

Sri (also Sree, Shri, Shree, Siri or Seri) (Sanskrit: श्री॰) is the most commonly used Indian honorific for men. The title derived from Sanskrit श्रीमन् (śrīman). It is akin to Mister (Mr.) in English

The title Smt (Sanskrit: श्रीमती, śrīmatī) is used for women, those who are married. It is akin to Mrs in English.

For unmarried women the title Kum (Sanskrit: कुमारी, kumārī) is used. It is akin to Miss in English.

In Tamil language Thiru (Tamil: திரு., IAST: tiru) and Thirumathi (Tamil: திருமதி, IAST: tirumati) ,are used for Sri and Srimati respectively.

Replacement type

Some honorifics act as complete replacements for a name, as "Bhavān" (Sanskrit: भवान्) or "Bhavatī" (Sanskrit: भवती).

Baba, Babaji, or Swami are Indian honorifics denoting very great respect, usually denoting spiritual mastery. Goswami is a title often bestowed on people who choose the path of Sannyasa. In Hinduisim, paṇḍit is an honorific title given to a scholar, a teacher, particularly one skilled in Sanskrit and Hindu law, religion, music or philosophy.

Suffix type

Honorifics