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Memsahib

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a European married woman in colonial India

Where does the word "memsahib" come from? It comes from Arabic ṣāḥib, passing through Anglo-Indian before entering English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ṣāḥib
Arabic · medieval
"companion, master"
a companion, then a master
2
Stage 2 of 3
mem-sāhib
Anglo-Indian · 1850s
"madam"
'mem', from English 'ma'am', plus 'sahib', master
3
Stage 3 of 3
memsahib
English · 1850s
"European lady in India"
used in and about the British Raj
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Read the full story

Memsahib’s story begins in Arabic: ṣāḥib meant “companion, master.” A companion, then a master. By 1850s, the word had taken hold in Anglo-Indian as mem-sāhib. 'mem', from English 'ma'am', plus 'sahib', master. It reached English by 1850s as memsahib. Used in and about the British Raj. Today, memsahib means a European married woman in colonial India.