Shrimati

Shrimati, also transliterated as Shrimatī or Śrīmatī, is an Indian honorific used as a respectful title for a married woman. In English-language contexts it is commonly abbreviated as Smt. and placed before the woman’s name (for example, Smt. Indira Gandhi). The term is the feminine form related to the Sanskrit honorific Śrī, conveying respect and auspicious regard.

Usage and variants

Shrimati is used across several Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, and others, with corresponding scripts such as श्रीमती in Devanagari and শ্রীমতী in Bengali-script usage. While Smt. is the standard formal prefix in many settings, some contexts may use full spellings like Shrimati or Shrimatī. The prefix is typically applied to a married woman; in contrast, unmarried women are often addressed as Kumārī (or Kumari) in many communities, though contemporary usage can vary.

Cultural and contemporary note

Traditionally, Shrimati signals marital status and carries a formal tone appropriate for official, governmental, or ceremonial contexts. In modern communication and media, the prefix may be used more broadly out of courtesy, particularly for older women, while some individuals prefer other forms of address. It is not a given name; instances of Shrimati as a stand-alone personal name are rare and usually not a common practice.

See also

In many formal documents, male equivalence uses Shri or Sri, while female equivalents rely on Shrimatī or Smt. The prefix remains an important element of respectful address in South Asian formal and official discourse.