Slavic honorifics

Slavic honorifics do not consist of a broad array of titles. There are two main honorifics among the Slavic peoples. The Western Slavs and the Ukrainians use the title of Pan, the Southern Slavs and Russians use title of Gospodin, while Belarussians use either Pan or Spadar (simplified version of Haspadar, which is related to Gospodin). Lithuanians, although not Slavs, use somewhat similar title Ponas.

Historically Pan was an equivalent to Lord or Master. In Polish it can also mean Master (ruler, suzerain) nowadays. The use of Pan differs in a high degree from the English honorifics. It is used as a honorific (roughly equivalent to Mr) before the name (first name and surname, only surname or only first name) and as a form of address without the name(roughly equivalent to Sir). In Poland use of Pan with the first name marks a combination of familiarity and respect. Unlike Sir, Pan is used both ways between persons of both equal and unequal rank (a waiter will address a guest Pan, and the guest will reciprocate, much like using Monsieur in French). Using Pan with the surname only is regarded as a little respectful way of addressing people, even somewhat condescending. When used to a superior, even rude. Using Pan with the surname only, however, is normally respectful, if talking about somebody. Pan is never used about oneself (unlike Mr). Pan is also used as kind of personal pronoun in a similar way as Usted in Spanish or Lei in Italian (unlike French 'Monsieur' or German 'Herr', which require the use of 'vous' and 'Sie' respectively).

Other titles

In the Eastern bloc the titles were changed to the equivalent of Comrade. In the Russian language there also was a title of Sudar which was used without inclusion of a personal name. In the Ukraine the counterpart to Russian Sudar was Pane Dobrodiu or Pani Dobrodiyka. Those titles became obsolete and now can only be found in novels. Also, compare it to the Russian title of the head of state, Gosudar. In Ukrainian the youngsters were referred as Panych, which is spelled Panicz in Polish. Another title of Vladyka (literally, ruler/master) is only used now when referred to the head of a church.

See also