sahib

American  

[sah-ib, -hib, sahb, ‐heeb] / ˈsɑ ɪb, -hɪb, sɑb, ‐hib /

noun

1. (in India) sir; master: a term of respect used, especially during the colonial period, when addressing or referring to a European.

2. none Sahib singular of Ashab.

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sahib British  

/ ˈsɑːhɪb, ˈsɑːhɛb /

noun

1. (in India) a form of address or title placed after a man's name or designation, used as a mark of respect

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Etymology

Origin of sahib

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Urdu, from Arabic ṣāḥib “master,” literally, “friend”

Explanation

In parts of the Indian subcontinent, the word sahib is used as a polite way to address a man. Today it's become more common to say "sir" instead, but many people still use sahib. During the British raj, Indians used sahib to respectfully address British people, and British officers used the word when they spoke to Indian officers. This tradition continues within the Indian army today. Sahib is also used to show respect to men considered higher or lower caste than the speaker. Sahib is from Urdu, in which it means "master," and derives from an Arabic root meaning "friend or companion."

Example Sentences

He eventually became fluent in Hindi, a rare achievement in Delhi's foreign press corps and one which endeared him to many Indians for whom he was always "Tully sahib".

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

He becomes a sort of hollow, posing dummy, the conventionalised figure of a sahib.

From The Guardian • Mar. 18, 2017

It was the calculus that governed life: Am I his sahib, or is he mine?

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2011

Inside, Ambassador Gilchrist, a 48-year-old Scot with a Vandyke beard, reacted in the approved pukka sahib tradition.

From Time Magazine Archive

Amir agha, Rahim Khan sahib is quite ill.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini