How Do You Spell MEMSAHIB?

Pronunciation: [mˈɛmsɐhˌɪb] (IPA)

Memsahib is a word borrowed from Hindi and used to describe a married white woman in colonial India. The IPA phonetic transcription for memsahib is /mɛmsɑːb/ with emphasis on the second syllable. The spelling of memsahib in English follows the pronunciation of the word in Hindi, where the letters 'm' and 's' form a cluster sound /ms/ and 'ahib' is pronounced as /ɑːb/. While the spelling of memsahib may seem unusual, it accurately reflects the Hindi pronunciation of the word.

MEMSAHIB Meaning and Definition

1. Memsahib is a noun derived from Hindustani, which originated from the Arabic language. It is primarily used in India and certain parts of Southeast Asia, particularly during the colonial era. This term refers to a European woman, especially the wife of a British officer or administrator, who lived in colonial India. The term is speculated to have originated from the combination of two words: "mem," an abbreviation for "madam" or "ma'am," and "sahib," a term denoting a person of high rank or respect.

   In colonial India, the memsahib held a position of privilege and influence due to her association with the colonial ruling class. She often led a privileged lifestyle with domestic help and was responsible for the management of the household affairs. The memsahib usually immersed herself in cultural and social activities, such as playing tennis, attending parties, or organizing charity events, which perpetuated the social hierarchy prevalent during the British Raj.

   The term "memsahib" also carries connotations of imperialism and colonial dominance, as it represents the cultural divide and sense of superiority that existed between Europeans and the native population during the colonial era. However, it is important to note that the term has fallen largely out of use in contemporary usage due to changing social dynamics and cultural sensitivity.

Common Misspellings for MEMSAHIB

• nemsahib
• kemsahib
• jemsahib
• mwmsahib
• msmsahib
• mdmsahib
• mrmsahib
• m4msahib
• m3msahib
• mensahib
• meksahib
• mejsahib
• memaahib
• memzahib
• memxahib
• memdahib
• memeahib
• memsahih
• memsahb
• memsahi
• memsahij
• Memsahibe

Etymology of MEMSAHIB

The word "memsahib" is derived from the Hindi term "memsaheb", which is a combination of two words: "mem" is a shortened form of the English word "ma'am" or "madam", while "sahib" is a title of respect used in the Indian subcontinent towards a person of authority or high social standing. The term was commonly used under British colonial rule in India to refer to a European woman, typically the wife of a British officer or civil servant. Over time, it became a term denoting a lady of high social status in colonial India.