Sayyida

Sayyida is an Arabic honorific meaning "lady" or "madam" and is the feminine form of Sayyid, literally "lord" or "master." It is used to address or refer to women in a variety of contexts, from everyday courtesy to formal titles. In many communities, it conveys respect and can signal social status or lineage.

In genealogical and religious contexts, Sayyid/Sayyida is often associated with lineages descended from the Prophet Muhammad, through his daughter Fatimah and son-in-law Ali. In different regions and traditions, Sayyida may indicate a female descendant of the Prophet, though the precise criteria and social implications vary. Outside genealogical use, Sayyida is commonly used simply as a respectful prefix before a woman's name (Sayyida Fatimah) or as part of a title (Sayyida al-Hurra).

Geographically, Sayyida is used across the Arab world and in other parts of the Muslim world, including North Africa, the Levant, the Gulf, and parts of South Asia. Variants include Sayyidah and Sayyada, among other spellings. In some places the term appears in the names of revered women, shrines, or historic titles for female leaders or community figures.

Notable examples include Sayyida Fatimah as a name element and Sayyida al-Hurra, a historical title associated with female leadership in North Africa. Today the term remains common in contemporary naming practices and in religious and social contexts, reflecting both respect for women and, in some communities, recognition of lineage.