babu

Definitions

1. A Hindu title of respect, equivalent to Mr., usually appended to the surname of a Hindu man.
   Hinglish, India, North
2. A surname.
3. an archetypical Indian bureaucrat, perceived as being corrupt, lazy or arrogant.
   India, derogatory
4. Originally, a Hindu gentleman employed to work as a clerk for the colonial administration; now, a clerk or low-ranking government official.
   India, historical

Equivalents

Examples

“I could see⟳ Kana-babu’s sweet-shop at the end⟳ of their lane with absolute clarity.”

“BBMP doesn’t have⟳ any elected representatives right now. So a babu has floated this tender to benefit his favourite businessmen.”

“The Babu put⟳ on his cap and quietly dropped out of the window”

“Office babus are the real rulers of this country now. Our number's up. Best thing we can do is to shut⟳ up shop⟳ and let⟳ 'em stew in their own⟳ juice.”

“From the prevailing colonial perspective, the English of the babus was error-ridden and characterised by over-elaborate ornateness, and for these ‘transgressions’ it became the butt of native-speaker ridicule.”

CEFR level