जनाब (janaab)

noun/interjection A respectful term of address for a man, roughly 'sir' or 'good sir' (janaab), often carrying a slightly old-fashioned, Urdu-inflected courtesy or, in modern speech, a teasing/sarcastic edge.

Sense 1 : respectful term of address for a man

noun, masculine Used directly as a vocative or attached before a name/title, e.g. जनाब अली (janaab alii, 'Sir Ali') -- functions almost like an honorific prefix.

Synonyms: साहब (saahab), महोदय (mahoday, formal)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: जनाब (janaab) has an old Mughal-court/Urdu courtly flavor, the kind of word you'd hear in a period drama or a ghazal, but in everyday Delhi speech today it's just as often used sarcastically among friends: 'अब जनाब को भूख लगी है' (ab janaab ko bhookh lagii hai, 'now His Highness is hungry') pokes gentle fun at someone acting a bit self-important.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often treat जनाब (janaab) as a neutral equivalent of 'sir,' missing that in casual modern speech it frequently carries a playful or sarcastic tone, as if teasing someone for acting important. 2) It is used for men only; it is not the polite address for a woman.

Sample Sentences:

जनाब बहुत ही नेक इंसान थे। Sir was a very noble man.

(janaab bahut hii nek insaan the।)

अब जनाब को भूख लगी है, खाना तो बनाना ही पड़ेगा। Now His Highness is hungry, so I'll have to cook something.

(ab janaab ko bhookh lagii hai, khaanaa to banaanaa hii padegaa।)

देखो तो, जनाब आज सूट पहनकर आए हैं। Look at that, His Lordship has come in a suit today.

(dekho to, janaab aaj soot pahankar aae hain।)

जनाब की मर्जी के बिना यहाँ पत्ता भी नहीं हिलता था। Without sir's permission, not even a leaf would stir here.

(janaab kii marjii ke binaa yahaan pattaa bhii nahiin hiltaa thaa।)

जनाब का मिज़ाज आजकल कुछ ठीक नहीं लग रहा। Sir's mood doesn't seem quite right these days.

(janaab kaa mizaaj aajkal kuchh thiik nahiin lag rahaa।)

अगर जनाब को ऐतराज़ न हो, तो हम आगे बढ़ें? If sir has no objection, shall we proceed?

(agar janaab ko aitraaz n ho, to ham aage badhen?)

जनाब, यह मामला इतना आसान नहीं जितना आप समझ रहे हैं। Sir, this matter is not as simple as you think.

(janaab, yah maamlaa itnaa aasaan nahiin jitnaa aap samajh rahe hain।)

अगर वह ज़रा भी विनम्र होते, तो लोग उन्हें जनाब कहकर बुलाते। If he had been even a little humble, people would have called him 'sir'.

(agar vah zaraa bhii vinamr hote, to log unhen janaab kahkar bulaate।)

मुशायरे में शायर को जनाब कहकर संबोधित किया गया। At the poetry gathering, the poet was addressed as 'sir'.

(mushaayre men shaayar ko janaab kahkar sambodhit kiyaa gayaa।)

जनाब बड़े आराम से कुर्सी पर बैठे हैं, जैसे कोई राजा हों। His Highness is sitting on the chair quite comfortably, as if he were some king.

(janaab bade aaraam se kursii par baithe hain, jaise koii raajaa hon।)

Sense 2 : polite/attention-getting address, 'sir!'

interjection Used alone as a call for attention, e.g. to a shopkeeper, waiter, or stranger, similar to calling out 'sir!' in English.

Synonyms: साहब (saahab)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You'll hear जनाब! (janaab) called out by an auto-rickshaw driver or a shopkeeper trying to get a customer's attention politely, it has that slightly formal, old-world street courtesy to it.

Sample Sentences:

जनाब! ज़रा इधर देखिए। Sir! Please look this way for a moment.

(janaab! zaraa idhar dekhie।)

जनाब, ऑटो चाहिए क्या? Sir, do you need an auto-rickshaw?

(janaab, oto chaahie kyaa?)

अरे जनाब! सुनिए तो ज़रा। Hey, sir! Do listen for a second.

(are janaab! sunie to zaraa।)

जनाब, यह सामान आपका है? Sir, is this luggage yours?

(janaab, yah saamaan aapkaa hai?)

दुकानदार बोला, "जनाब, अंदर आइए, अच्छा माल है।" The shopkeeper said, "Sir, come inside, we have good stuff."

(dukaandaar bolaa, "janaab, andar aaie, achchhaa maal hai।")

जनाब, अगर इजाज़त हो तो मैं कुछ कहूँ। Sir, if I may, I would like to say something.

(janaab, agar ijaazat ho to main kuchh kahoon।)

जनाब, कहाँ जाना है? Sir, where do you need to go?

(janaab, kahaan jaanaa hai?)

जनाब, अगर आप वहाँ जाते, तो टिकट पहले ही मिल जाता। Sir, if you had gone there, you would have gotten the ticket already.

(janaab, agar aap vahaan jaate, to tikat pahle hii mil jaataa।)

जनाब, थोड़ा किराया कम कर दीजिए। Sir, please reduce the fare a little.

(janaab, thodaa kiraayaa kam kar diijie।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): जनाब (janaab)

(sg.m.oblique): जनाब (janaab)

(pl.m.direct): जनाब (janaab)

(pl.m.oblique): जनाबों (janaabon)