noun
begum
buh-GUHM
Begum (noun) means a title of respect for a high-ranking Muslim woman, especially in South Asia. Example: “The begum ruled the princely state with great skill.”
noun
1
A title of respect for a high-ranking Muslim woman, especially in South Asia.
"toxic politics dominated by the bitter infighting of the “battling begums” (the widow and daughter of former presidents, who lead the two main parties)."
— “Bangladesh: Out of the basket”, Bangladesh: Out of the basket (2012)
"The begum ruled the princely state with great skill."
How to use begum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA respectful title for a Muslim woman of high social standing, mainly in South Asia.
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Word forms
- Plural
- begums
- Third person singular
- begums
- Past tense
- begummed
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The _____ ruled the princely state with great skill.
Etymology
Borrowed from Persian and Turkic languages into South Asian usage as a female honorific, roughly equivalent to "lady" or "madam" for women of rank.
Rhymes for begum
See all rhymes for begum →Frequently asked questions
What does “begum” mean?
The word “begum” means a title of respect for a high-ranking Muslim woman, especially in South Asia. In plain terms, a respectful title for a Muslim woman of high social standing, mainly in South Asia.
How do you pronounce “begum”?
“Begum” is pronounced buh-GUHM (/bəˈɡʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “begum” in a sentence?
Here is “begum” used in a sentence: “The begum ruled the princely state with great skill.”
What part of speech is “begum”?
“Begum” is a noun.
Where does the word “begum” come from?
The word “begum” comes from Persian. Borrowed from Persian and Turkic languages into South Asian usage as a female honorific, roughly equivalent to "lady" or "madam" for women of rank.
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