← Wordbook

Memsahib

मेमसाहिब
MEM-sah-hib

Memsahib (मेमसाहिब) is a Hindi-origin word used in Indian English, meaning respectful Indian English term of address for a European or upper-class lady — historically colonial. In crosswords it is the 8-letter answer MEMSAHIB (8).

— Sign in to vote

Meaning & usage

Memsahib (from "madam" + the honorific "sahib") was the standard form of address for a European woman in colonial India, used by Indian staff and servants. The form is now mostly historical and appears in literature and film about the Raj era; in contemporary usage it can be ironic or affectionate. Compare the masculine "sahib" (still used informally) and the diminutive "missy" for an unmarried European girl.

In a sentence

The memsahib of the bungalow ran a strict household.

Common spelling variants

  • Mem-sahib
  • Memsaab

Memsahib is the English spelling used in MG Mini puzzles.

Memsahib as a crossword answer

Memsahib is a 8-letter answer. A typical clue:

“Respectful Indian English term of address for a European or upper-class lady — historically colonial” (8)

Category: General Origin: Hindi Script: Hindi

Related words

  • Babu — Indian English term for a clerk or low-level bureaucrat — sometimes mildly pejorative.
  • Saar — It is "Sir", just pronounced this way in south India (mostly bengaluru/chennai side)
  • Bahu — Daughter-in-law in Indian families.
  • Hindustan — Historical Persian-derived name for the Indian subcontinent or for North India.
  • Mamoni — A term of endearment for a young girl in Assamese culture.
  • Ginni — A term for a wife or woman in Bengali culture.

Related crosswords

Puzzles with a theme close to Memsahib.

Try today's MG Mini →

Know a word we’re missing? Submit a word.