# shri

/ˈʃɹi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shri
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. title for men

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

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.

### 2. religious honorific

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

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.

## Examples

- The speaker introduced Shri Gupta to the stage.
- In many formal Indian documents, the name of a male official is preceded by Shri as a mark of traditional respect.
- The text refers to the deity as Shri Krishna, employing the title not merely as a formal address but as a recognition of divine grace and prosperity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.