Jetsun

Jetsun is a Tibetan honorific prefix meaning venerable or holy. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is used to address respected teachers, high lamas, and scholars, and it commonly appears before a person’s name. The term functions as both a mark of reverence in formal address and as part of a personal name in everyday usage.

The title is often transliterated as Jetsun and may be combined with various names to signify esteem. It does not denote a specific rank on its own, but rather expresses reverence for the individual's spiritual or scholarly stature. In biographies, liturgical texts, and traditional writings, Jetsun appears as a formal preface to the names of eminent figures or teachers.

Notable usage includes Jetsun Pema, born in 1990, who is the wife of the 14th Dalai Lama. Beyond contemporary figures, Jetsun appears in historical and religious contexts as an honorific attached to respected lamas and teachers, and is sometimes used in conjunction with titles such as Rinpoche in Tibetan Buddhist naming conventions. The term remains a common and culturally significant element in Tibetan Buddhist naming and address practices.