Effendí

Effendi, also transliterated as effendi or efendi, is an honorific title historically used in the Ottoman Empire and in regions under its influence to refer to a man of education, standing, or authority. It functioned as a polite form of address akin to sir, master, or gentleman, and was commonly applied to professionals, merchants, public officials, and educated urban residents. The term could accompany a speaker’s name or be used alone to confer respect.

The etymology traces to the Ottoman Turkish word efendi, with roots in Persian and Arabic linguistic traditions that circulated in the Islamic world. While its exact origin is the subject of scholarly discussion, by the early modern period it had become a standard title across the empire and in neighboring communities, including Greek, Balkan, and Levantine populations, where it appeared in written and oral forms.

In everyday usage, speakers might say efendi or efendim (its vocative form) to address or refer to a person of status. In some contexts, especially in Greek- and Balkan-influenced areas, the term remained a marker of polite address even after the fall of the empire. In modern Turkish, efendi now reads as somewhat archaic, with efendim serving as a general polite form meaning “how can I help you?” The term likewise appears in historical literature and translations as a reminder of Ottoman-era social hierarchies.