noun
Uncommon
Shri
Shri (noun) means a respectful title placed before a man's name, roughly equivalent to "Mr." in South Asian usage. Example: “The invitation was addressed to Shri Ramesh Gupta.”
noun
1
A respectful title placed before a man's name, roughly equivalent to "Mr." in South Asian usage.
"The invitation was addressed to Shri Ramesh Gupta."
"He signed the official letter as Shri A. K. Sharma."
2
An honorific placed before the names of deities, saints, sacred texts, or holy places.
"Pilgrims chanted "Shri Ganesha" before starting their journey."
"The temple is formally known as Shri Venkateswara Temple."
How to use Shri
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite title of respect used in India and neighbouring countries, similar to "Mr." or "Sir," or added before something sacred.
UK vs US
Rarely used in everyday British or American English outside South Asian communities or contexts.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Shri.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The invitation was addressed to _____ Ramesh Gupta.
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit shri, meaning splendour or sacred fortune, and used across many South Asian languages as a mark of respect.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Shri” mean?
The word “Shri” means a respectful title placed before a man's name, roughly equivalent to "Mr." in South Asian usage. In plain terms, a polite title of respect used in India and neighbouring countries, similar to "Mr." or "Sir," or added before something sacred.
How do you use “Shri” in a sentence?
Here is “Shri” used in a sentence: “The invitation was addressed to Shri Ramesh Gupta.”
What part of speech is “Shri”?
“Shri” is a noun.
Where does the word “Shri” come from?
The word “Shri” comes from Sanskrit. Borrowed from Sanskrit shri, meaning splendour or sacred fortune, and used across many South Asian languages as a mark of respect.
Is “Shri” a common word?
“Shri” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Shri” have?
“Shri” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a respectful title placed before a man's name, roughly equivalent to "Mr." in South Asian usage.
When is "Shri" used before a name?
"Shri" is a respectful title placed before a man's name in South Asian usage, functioning much like "Mr." in English. It can also serve as an honorific before the names of deities, saints, sacred texts, or holy places.
What is the difference between "Shri" and "Mr."?
"Shri" serves a similar respectful function to "Mr." when placed before a man's name, but it is also used more broadly as an honorific for deities, saints, sacred texts, and holy places, a role "Mr." does not have. This dual use gives "Shri" wider religious and cultural significance.
Is "Shri" only used for people?
No, besides being placed before a man's name as a mark of respect, "Shri" is also used as an honorific before the names of deities, saints, sacred texts, or holy places. Its use therefore extends beyond referring to living people.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Shri:
