Sidi is a masculine title of respect in Western Arabic language and Egyptian Arabic (sayyid in other dialects) equivalent to modern popular usage of the English Mr. and Spanish Señor. It is also used in other Arabic dialects, such as Eastern Arabic, as well as by Muslims of the Indian subcontinent in the Urdu language - however, in these latter two cases, "Sidi" does not have so much currency as titles like sayed, janab or saheb.

Occasionally a respected member of a muslim society will be given the title Sidi by default in recognition of upright standing and wisdom. This especially applies to marabouts, hence the term appears in places and mosques named after one.

In the Maghrebi kingdom of Morocco:

• Sidi ('Lord'): the title used as a substitute for Mulay by those male members of the ruling Alawi dynasty sharing the first name of the Muslim Prophet, Muhammad
• Smiyet Sidi: a style usually reserved for the Sovereign or the Heir Apparent, loosely, but imperfectly, translated as 'His Lordship' or 'Monseigneur'

In neighbouring Tunisian Arabic, it has evolved into two separate variants: "Si" means Mister or Sir, while "Sidi" means "Master" or "Saint", depending on the context. For example older conservative Tunisian women call their husbands "Sidi", not by first name; older conservative Tunisians (both men and women) call their older brothers "Sidi", especially when there is a large age difference between them. There are two female equivalents of "Sidi": "Lella", when used in a social context, and "Sayyeda" when speaking about female saints, for example "(Es)-Sayyeda El-Manoubiyya".

Sidi is part of the following proper names:

• El Cid Campeador, Cid being the Spanish corruption of Sidi, a Christian knight of the Reconquista
• Cide Hamete Benengeli, the fictional author of Don Quixote
• Sidi Abdel Rahman is a town in Egypt
• Sidi Barrani, an Egyptian village
• Sidi Bel Abbes, an Algerian wilayah (province)
• Sidi Ifni, a Moroccan city
• Three massacres named after the Algerian villages where they occurred:

• Sidi Daoud massacre

• Sid El-Antri massacre
• Sidi-Hamed massacre
  • Sidi Moro Sanneh is a Gambian economist
• Sidi Said, leader of a Algerian trade union
• Sidi Bouzid Governorate, Tunisia

In India, the Sidi are a community of Sufis from the region of Gujarat who arrived from East Africa in the 12th century. They conserve their African musical tradition and display it in their festivals honoring Bavar Gar.

SIDI is an Italian cycling and motorcycling shoe manufacturer.

Arabic words | Maghreb | Men's social titles | Noble titles

Sidi (homonymie)