श्री (shrii)
noun
A respectful title placed before a man's name (like 'Mr.'), and also a formal/religious noun meaning auspiciousness, wealth, or splendor, often used as an honorific prefix for deities and revered texts.
Sense
1
:
honorific title, 'Mr.'
noun, masculine Placed directly before the name with no inflection: श्री शर्मा (shrii sharmaa, Mr. Sharma).
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will see श्री (shrii) constantly on wedding invitations, official letters, and nameplates outside Delhi homes -- it carries the same formal courtesy as 'Mr.' or 'Shri' in Indian English. It is also used as a title for revered religious figures and gurus, e.g. श्री राम (shrii raam).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to use श्री (shrii) for women, but the feminine equivalent is श्रीमती (shriimtii, Mrs.) for married women or सुश्री (sushrii, Ms.) as a neutral/unmarried option -- श्री (shrii) itself is male-only. 2) It is a written/formal-address convention (letters, invitations, forms, name plates) rather than something said aloud in casual conversation -- you would not typically call a colleague 'श्री (shrii) Verma' out loud the way you might write it.
Sample Sentences:
श्री रमेश कुमार आज हमारे कार्यक्रम के मुख्य अतिथि हैं।
Mr. Ramesh Kumar is the chief guest at our event today.
(shrii ramesh kumaar aaj hamaare kaaryakram ke mukhy atithi hain।)
निमंत्रण पत्र पर श्री सुरेश गुप्ता का नाम सबसे ऊपर लिखा था।
Mr. Suresh Gupta's name was written at the very top of the invitation card.
(nimantran patr par shrii suresh guptaa kaa naam sabse oopar likhaa thaa।)
कृपया श्री अग्रवाल को यह पत्र सौंप दीजिए।
Please hand this letter over to Mr. Agarwal.
(kripyaa shrii agrvaal ko yah patr saump diijie।)
अगर श्री शर्मा से पूछा जाए तो वे इस मामले पर अपनी राय ज़रूर देंगे।
If Mr. Sharma is asked, he will surely give his opinion on this matter.
(agar shrii sharmaa se poochhaa jaae to ve is maamle par apnii raay zaroor denge।)
श्री बंसल हर सुबह पार्क में टहलते हैं।
Mr. Bansal takes a walk in the park every morning.
(shrii bansal har subah paark men tahalte hain।)
श्री मेहता इस समय अपने दफ़्तर में मेहमानों से बात कर रहे हैं।
Mr. Mehta is currently talking to guests in his office.
(shrii mehtaa is samay apne daftar men mehmaanon se baat kar rahe hain।)
काश श्री वर्मा भी इस बैठक में शामिल हो पाते।
If only Mr. Verma could also have joined this meeting.
(kaash shrii varmaa bhii is baithak men shaamil ho paate।)
नेमप्लेट पर साफ़ अक्षरों में लिखा है: श्री अशोक चोपड़ा।
The nameplate reads clearly in bold letters: Mr. Ashok Chopra.
(nemaplet par saaf akshron men likhaa hai: shrii ashok chopdaa।)
यह पुरस्कार श्री दिनेश जोशी को उनकी उत्कृष्ट सेवाओं के लिए प्रदान किया गया।
This award was presented to Mr. Dinesh Joshi for his outstanding services.
(yah puraskaar shrii dinesh joshii ko unkii utkrisht sevaaon ke lie pradaan kiyaa gayaa।)
भक्त मंदिर में खड़े होकर श्री राम की आरती गा रहे थे।
The devotees, standing in the temple, were singing the aarti to Lord Ram.
(bhakt mandir men khade hokar shrii raam kii aartii gaa rahe the।)
सम्मानित श्री गोपाल दास जी ने सभा को संबोधित किया।
The respected Mr. Gopal Das addressed the gathering.
(sammaanit shrii gopaal daas jii ne sabhaa ko sambodhit kiyaa।)
Sense
2
:
auspiciousness, prosperity, splendor (formal/devotional)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शोभा (shobhaa), समृद्धि (samriddhi, formal), लक्ष्मी (lakshmii, as a personification)
Frequency: literary
Cultural Note: This older sense survives mainly inside compounds and set phrases -- श्रीगणेश (shriignesh, 'auspicious start', literally invoking Lord Ganesh) is the classic example, used idiomatically for 'making a beginning' of any task. It also appears as a devotional prefix before deity and text names, like श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता (shriimadbhagvadgiitaa).
Sample Sentences:
किसी भी काम का श्रीगणेश करने से पहले लोग अक्सर मिठाई बाँटते हैं।
Before making the auspicious beginning of any task, people often distribute sweets.
(kisii bhii kaam kaa shriignesh karne se pahle log aksar mithaaii baantte hain।)
आज सुबह उन्होंने नई दुकान का श्रीगणेश किया।
This morning he made the auspicious start of the new shop.
(aaj subah unhonne naii dukaan kaa shriignesh kiyaa।)
इस पावन ग्रंथ का नाम श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता है।
The name of this sacred text is the glorious Bhagavad Gita.
(is paavan granth kaa naam shriimadbhagvadgiitaa hai।)
उस परिवार में धन-धान्य और श्री की कभी कमी नहीं रही।
That family never lacked wealth, grain, and prosperity.
(us parivaar men dhan-dhaany aur shrii kii kabhii kamii nahiin rahii।)
काश हर घर में ऐसी श्री और शांति बसी होती।
If only such prosperity and peace dwelled in every home.
(kaash har ghar men aisii shrii aur shaanti basii hotii।)
नए वर्ष का श्रीगणेश शुभ मुहूर्त में ही करना चाहिए।
The auspicious beginning of the new year should be made only at an auspicious hour.
(nae varsh kaa shriignesh shubh muhoort men hii karnaa chaahie।)
देवी को श्री और सौभाग्य की दात्री कहा जाता है।
The goddess is called the giver of prosperity and good fortune.
(devii ko shrii aur saubhaagy kii daatrii kahaa jaataa hai।)
इस मंदिर में हर उत्सव का श्रीगणेश आरती से होता है।
In this temple, the auspicious start of every festival happens with an aarti.
(is mandir men har utsav kaa shriignesh aartii se hotaa hai।)
कवि ने राज्य की श्री का वर्णन बड़े ही भावपूर्ण शब्दों में किया।
The poet described the splendor of the kingdom in very heartfelt words.
(kavi ne raajy kii shrii kaa varnan bade hii bhaavpoorn shabdon men kiyaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
श्री
(shrii)
(sg.m.oblique):
श्री
(shrii)
(pl.m.direct):
श्री
(shrii)
(pl.m.oblique):
श्रीयों
(shriiyon)