noun
babuji
noun
1
A respectful South Asian term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "sir" or "mister" but warmer and more personal.
"The clerk greeted the old man with a polite "babuji, please come in.""
"Everyone in the neighbourhood called the retired schoolteacher babuji out of respect."
How to Use Babuji
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite, affectionate way to address a man in South Asian English and Hindi — like adding "sir" but friendlier.
When to use it
Common in Indian and Pakistani English; would sound out of place in most other English-speaking contexts.
Word Forms
babujis plural
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The clerk greeted the old man with a polite "_____, please come in."
Etymology
From Hindi babu ("clerk, gentleman") plus the honorific suffix -ji, which is added to names or titles across South Asia to show respect.