sahiba

Sahiba is a feminine honorific used in South Asia and parts of the Middle East. It derives from the masculine sahib, meaning master or owner, with the feminine form sahiba. In Urdu and Hindi, sahiba functions as a respectful title for a woman and can be used in direct address or in written correspondence, roughly equivalent to “lady,” “madam,” or “Mrs.” in English. The term has historical associations with Persianate and Mughal-era court culture, where noblewomen or women of status might be addressed as sahiba or as part of compound titles.

In contemporary usage, sahiba can still appear as a polite address in some communities, though its use has declined in everyday speech in many areas and may be replaced by less formal terms among younger speakers. The exact connotation can vary by region, community, and era, ranging from formal politeness to a traditional or ceremonial sense.

As a given name, sahiba is used for girls in South Asia and among diaspora communities. When employed as a personal name, it carries the cultural associations of the original honorific, often interpreted to convey femininity and dignity. It is more commonly encountered as a name rather than as a current professional title in modern contexts.

Variations and related terms include sahib (the masculine form) and transliterations that reflect regional pronunciation. The use and meaning of sahiba can differ across languages and communities, reflecting shifts in social norms and forms of address.