babu

Also ba·boo

[bah-boo]

noun

1. a Hindu title of address equivalent to Sir, Mr., or Esquire.

2. a Hindu gentleman.

3. Older Use.,  an Indian clerk who can write in English.

4. Usually Disparaging.,  any Indian having only a limited knowledge of English.

babu

/ ˈbɑːbuː /

noun

1. (in India) a title or form of address more or less equivalent to Mr , placed before a person's full name or after his first name

Sensitive Note

The term babu English is a disparaging name for a florid, overly polite, or unidiomatic variety of English historically associated with Indians who have limited proficiency in English.

Word History and Origins

Origin of babu¹

First recorded in 1875–80, babu is from the Hindi word bābū

Word History and Origins

Origin of babu¹

Hindi, literally: father