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Where does the word "memsahib" come from? It comes from Arabic ṣāḥib, passing through Anglo-Indian before entering English (1850s).
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Where does the word "memsahib" come from? It comes from Arabic ṣāḥib, passing through Anglo-Indian before entering English (1850s).
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.
- Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval ṣāḥib "companion, master", a companion, then a master.
- Stage 2 · Anglo-Indian · 1850s mem-sāhib "madam", 'mem', from English 'ma'am', plus 'sahib', master.
- Stage 3 · English · 1850s memsahib "European lady in India", used in and about the British Raj.