Efendi: what does this expression mean?

Many of us have heard the word "effendi". What this expression means, we hardly know. Meanwhile, the term of this foreign language origin, a few centuries ago, he denoted belonging to a high military rank. Moreover, the so-called people representing a high social class.

What was this rank and what is the country of origin of the expression? Let's try to understand this question.

Interpretation of the expression

Philologists argue which language is the creator of this word. There are versions that this word is ancient Persian. There are hypotheses that this is an ancient Arabic word. There is an idea that this expression refers to the Pra-Turk language. In any case, it is clear: this term is of Eastern origin and means "master or lord".

Who is called efendi, what does this title mean?

So in the 15th century in the East countries were called rich commanders, spiritual leaders, rulers, members of the Sultan's family and so on. It was a kind of expression of respect for a high person. Usually this very word was put right after the name, for example, Ahmat-efendi.

The meaning of expression in the Ottoman Empire

In the Ottoman Empire, this expression gradually began to acquire national features. Who was called in Turkey efendi, what does this word mean since the 17th century?

So, in Turkey, such a title could be called officers, as well as all those who owned the letter. And so it was possible to address both to men and women (but it should be remembered that this expression could be referred to as women occupying a high social status).

Literacy itself was regarded as a great virtue, which a person possessed, that's why he could call himself an effendi, which means "a literate person". This can be learned from ancient Turkish manuscripts.

Modern interpretation of this term

In the last hundred years, life in Turkey has changed significantly. In this regard, in 1934 the military rank of "Effendi" was abolished, but this expression did not lose its significance.

If we ask the question of what "efendi" means in Turkish today, we will be able to find out that now it is a form of courteous treatment to strangers. This is a kind of analogue of such polite forms of treatment that have developed in other languages, for example, in English - sir, in Polish - pan and pani, in Italian - señor, señora and the like.

There is such an expression in the language of the peoples of the North Caucasus. However, here the efendi is an appeal to a Muslim priest.