begum
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begum¹
- /bəˈɡʌm/
Rhymes with -ʌm
verb begums · begumming · begummed
- To daub or cover with gum.
begum²
- /ˈbeɪɡəm/
- /ˈbɛɡəm/
Rhymes with -ɛɡəm
Where it comes from
From Classical Persian بیگم (bēgum), from East Turkic begüm, from beg (a title of nobility in Iran, Central Asia and South Asia) + -um (feminine suffix for titles of nobility). Compare Classical Persian خانم (xānum).
noun begums
- a high-ranking Muslim woman, especially in South Asia He went to India with his capital, and there, according to a wild legend in our family, he was once seen riding on an elephant, in company with a Baboon; but I think it must have been a Baboo—or a Begum.
- the form of address for such a woman It was a known fact that an envoy from an Indian Prince, a Colonel Altamont, the Nawaub of Lucknow’s prime favourite, an extraordinary man, who had, it was said, embraced Mahometanism, and undergone a thousand wild and perilous adventures was at present in this country, trying to negotiate with the
Begum³
Where it comes from
Ultimately from Classical Persian بیگم (bēgum).
proper noun Begums · Begun
- A surname of Bengali usage
noun Begums · Begun
- An honorific title from Central and South Asia, often used by leading women in society.
Translations
Talk about this word "begum." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/begum. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. begum. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/begum "begum." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/begum.Cite this
@misc{begum_2026,
title = {begum},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/begum},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
