Portrait of a Bibi, Lucknow (Oudh State) 1785

Bibi, also spelled Bebe, is frequently used as a respectful title for Muslim women in South Asia when added to the given name.[1][2]

Bibi, like Begum, is used as a surname by many women in the region.[3]

In Anglo-Indian, the term bibi came to be seen as a synonym for mistress.[2]

Etymology

The word "Bibi", which made its way into the Pashto and Urdu language, was originally borrowed from Classical Persian (بی‌بی bī-bī). It was translated as "grandma" (chiefly in Pashto, Dari, Tajik). Besides this it was also used as respectful title to address a senior women.[4]

Notable people known by this title

References

  1. ^ Nevile, Pran (2000). "Bibis and mistresses". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 October 2018.[dead link]
  2. ^ a b Hyam, Ronald (1990). Empire and Sexuality: The British Experience. Manchester University Press. p. 115. ISBN 9780719025044. Retrieved 31 October 2018. Bibi is a Hindustani word meaning 'high-class woman', which in Hobson-Jobson 'Anglo-Indian' parlance came to mean native mistress.
  3. ^ A. R. Gatrad; Aziz Sheikh. "Muslim birth customs". Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed2001;84:F6-F8 doi:10.1136/fn.84.1.F6. Archived from the original on 2015-02-05.
  4. ^ "بی‌بی", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 2023-08-31, retrieved 2023-11-13
  5. ^ Pant, Poonam (2001). Role of Women in Medieval Indian Politics, 1236-1627. Tarun Prakashan. p. 123. Retrieved 31 October 2018. Bibi Ambha , a Hindu beauty who enamoured Bahlol Lodi displayed a Machiavellian diplomacy.
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