Word
shri
/ˈʃɹi/
Definitions
01title for men
n. a polite title used before a man's name in India, similar to 'Mr.' in English.
n. A respectful title prefixed to the names of Indian men, functioning as a formal equivalent to 'Mr.' in South Asian English contexts.
“The letter was addressed to Shri Rajesh Kumar at his office in Delhi.”
“The official invitation was formally addressed to Shri Gupta, acknowledging his senior position within the ministry.”
Formal
Usage
Always capitalized and placed immediately before the name.
Teaching tip
Learners should recognize this as a cultural honorific; it is rarely used by non-Indians unless following local protocol.
Synonyms
02religious honorific
n. a title used to show great respect for gods, holy people, or sacred books.
n. An honorific prefix used to denote the sanctity or high status of deities, spiritual leaders, or religious texts.
“Many people refer to the holy book as the Shri Bhagavad Gita.”
“The temple was dedicated to Shri Krishna, and the name was inscribed in gold above the main entrance.”
Formal
Usage
Often used repeatedly in a list of titles to show extreme devotion or respect.
Teaching tip
In religious contexts, you may see it spelled as 'Sri' or 'Shree' depending on the transliteration style.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/shri