Meaning & use
Babu
Last updated
A South Asian title of respect for a man, roughly equivalent to "Mr.," historically also used for native clerks in British colonial administration.
See it in a sentence
The letter was addressed formally to "Babu Ram Singh."
Colonial-era novels often mention a "babu" managing the office's paperwork.
A note on using this word
While originally a respectful title, "babu" was sometimes used pejoratively by British colonists to caricature English-speaking Indian clerks.
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