ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shri

n.
US //ˈʃɹi// shri
  1. 1 title for men (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

    a polite title used before a man's name in India, similar to 'Mr.' in English.

    A respectful title prefixed to the names of Indian men, functioning as a formal equivalent to 'Mr.' in South Asian English contexts.

    Example

    The letter was addressed to Shri Rajesh Kumar at his office in Delhi.

    Example

    The official invitation was formally addressed to Shri Gupta, acknowledging his senior position within the ministry.

    Usage

    Always capitalized and placed immediately before the name.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners should recognize this as a cultural honorific; it is rarely used by non-Indians unless following local protocol.
  2. 2 religious honorific (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Religion

    a title used to show great respect for gods, holy people, or sacred books.

    An honorific prefix used to denote the sanctity or high status of deities, spiritual leaders, or religious texts.

    Example

    Many people refer to the holy book as the Shri Bhagavad Gita.

    Example

    The temple was dedicated to Shri Krishna, and the name was inscribed in gold above the main entrance.

    Usage

    Often used repeatedly in a list of titles to show extreme devotion or respect.

    Teacher's tip

    In religious contexts, you may see it spelled as 'Sri' or 'Shree' depending on the transliteration style.

Last updated June 20, 2026