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A style of office or form of address, also called manner of address, is an official or legally recognized form of address for a person or other entity (such as a government or company), and may often be used in conjunction with a personal
title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
. A style, by
tradition A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
or
law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or
political office The incumbent is the current holder of an official, office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seek ...
, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
can also be awarded to an individual in a personal capacity. Such styles are particularly associated with
monarchies A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutional monarchy), ...
, where they may be used by a wife of an office holder or of a prince of the blood, for the duration of their
marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
. They are also almost universally used for
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
s in
republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
s and in many countries for
members Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set * In object-oriented programming, a member of a class ** Field (computer science), entries in ...
of
legislative bodies A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as ...
, higher-ranking
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
s, and senior constitutional office holders. Leading
religious Religion is usually defined as a social system, social-cultural system of designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morality, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sacred site, sanctified places, prophecy, prophecie ...
figures Figure may refer to: General *A shape, drawing, depiction, or geometric configuration *Figure (wood), wood appearance *Figure (music), distinguished from musical motif *Noise figure, in telecommunication *Dance figure, an elementary dance patter ...
also have styles.


Examples


Academia

Traditional forms of address at
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
-speaking universities: *His/Her Magnificence – rector (president) of a university *His/Her Notability (; Professors have the privilege to use the Latin ) – dean of a faculty Traditional forms of address at
Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...
-speaking universities: *His/Her Great Honour () – rector magnificus (president) of a university *Highly Learned Sir/Madam () – professor or dean of a faculty *Well (Noble) Very Learned Sir/Madam () – a doctor *Well (Noble) Learned Sir/Madam () – a
doctorandus Doctorandus (drs., ; ) is a Dutch academic title according to the pre-Bachelor–Master system. The female form is doctoranda (dra., though this abbreviation is no longer used). The title is acquired by passing the ''doctoraalexamen'', the exam wh ...
*Well (Noble) Strictly Sir/Madam () – a master in laws () or a university engineer () Traditional forms of address at
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...
-speaking universities: *Magnificent Rector () – rector (president, chancellor) of a university *Amplified Headmaster () – dean of a faculty (now uncommon) *Illustrious/Enlightened Professor () – a full professor


Government


Diplomats

*His
Most Reverend The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures, primarily within the historic denominations of Christianity, but occasionally in some more modern traditions also. It is a variant of the more common style "The Reverend". Anglic ...
Excellency (abbreviation ''His Most Rev. Ex.'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') –
apostolic nuncio An apostolic nuncio ( la, nuntius apostolicus; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international org ...
s, because their rank is equal to that of an
ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
extraordinary and plenipotentiary, and they are simultaneously higher
prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pref ...
s. *His/Her
Excellency Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the right ...
(abbreviation ''HE'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') – most
ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
s, high commissioners and
permanent representative A permanent representative is a diplomat who is the head of a country’s diplomatic mission to an international organisation. Organizations that receive permanent representatives from their member states include the United Nations, the World Tr ...
s to international organizations; sometimes also the presidents of
republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
s,
governors-general Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
, governors of provinces and
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
s. *
The Honorable ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...
(oral address ''Mr./Madam Ambassador'') – US ambassadors. Typically US ambassadors are addressed as "Your Excellency" by non-US citizens outside the United States.


Judiciaries

* My Lord/Your Honour is used to address judiciary representatives in
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. *The Honorable (abbreviation ''The Hon.'', oral address ''Your Honor'') – Judges and justices in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. * Oral address ''Your Excellency'' – Judges of the
International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; french: Cour internationale de justice, links=no; ), sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordanc ...
. * Oral address ''Your Worship'' – All courts in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
(obsolete). * Oral address ''Your Honour'' – All courts in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.


=United Kingdom

= * His/Her Honour Judge X (abbreviation ''HHJ X'', oral address ''Your Honour'') – Circuit judges in
England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...
. *
The Honourable ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...
Mr./Ms. Justice X (abbreviation ''X J'', referential ''His Lordship/Her Ladyship''; oral address ''My Lord/Lady'' or ''Your Lordship/Your Ladyship'') – Judges of the
High Court of Justice The High Court of Justice in London, known properly as His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England, together with the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Courts of England and Wales, Senior Cou ...
of England and Wales. *
The Right Honourable ''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The term is ...
Lord/Lady Justice X (abbreviation ''X LJ'') – Judges of the
Court of Appeal of England and Wales The Court of Appeal (formally "His Majesty's Court of Appeal in England", commonly cited as "CA", "EWCA" or "CoA") is the highest court within the Courts of England and Wales#Senior Courts of England and Wales, Senior Courts of England and Wal ...
. * The Lord/Lady/Baroness X (abbreviated to ''Lord/Lady/Baroness X'', referred to as ''His Lordship/Her Ladyship'', addressed orally as ''My Lord/My Lady'') – Judges in the
High Court of Justiciary The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. The High Court is both a trial court and a court of appeal. As a trial court, the High Court sits on circuit at Parliament House or in the adjacent former Sheriff Cou ...
and the
Court of Session The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh ...
in Scotland, and the
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (initialism: UKSC or the acronym: SCOTUK) is the final court of appeal in the United Kingdom for all civil cases, and for criminal cases originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As the Unite ...
. * Oral address ''
Your Worship Worship is an honorific prefix for mayors, Justice of the Peace, justices of the peace and magistrates in present or former Commonwealth realms. In spoken address, these officials are addressed as Your Worship or referred to as His Worship, Her Wor ...
'' –
Justices of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
(magistrates) in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, usually by solicitors.


Monarchies

*
Sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" a ...
(oral address first ''
Your Majesty Majesty (abbreviated HM for His Majesty or Her Majesty, oral address Your Majesty; from the Latin ''maiestas'', meaning "greatness") is used as a style (manner of address), manner of address by many monarchs, usually kings or queen regnant, quee ...
'' and then ''Sire''; for a queen first ''Your Majesty'' and then ''
Ma'am Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French ''mada ...
'') – Reigning
king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
s in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and in
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. It has also been used in
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
,
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
and
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
. *His/Her
Imperial Majesty Imperial Majesty (''His/Her Imperial Majesty'', abbreviated as ''HIM'') is a style used by Emperors and Empresses. It distinguishes the status of an emperor/empress from that of a King/Queen, who are simply styled Majesty. Holders of this style h ...
, (abbreviation ''HIM'', oral address ''Your Imperial Majesty'') – Emperors and empresses. Formerly, for example, HIM the Shah of Iran. In modern times, the
Emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his positio ...
more often uses the simpler style of "Majesty". *His/Her
Imperial and Royal Majesty Imperial and Royal Majesty (abbreviated as HI&RM) was the style used by King-Emperors and their consorts as heads of imperial dynasties that were simultaneously royal. The style was notably used by the Emperor of Austria (who was also the King of ...
(abbreviation ''HI&RM'', oral address ''Your Imperial and Royal Majesty'') – Until 1918, the rulers of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
, who were Emperors/Empresses of Austria while also Kings/Queens of Hungary, and the German emperors/empresses, who were simultaneously Kings/Queens of Prussia. *His/Her
Apostolic Majesty His (Royal) Apostolic Majesty was a styled title used by the Kings of Hungary, in the sense of being latter-day apostles of Christianity. First creation The origin of this title dates from about A.D. 1000 when it was conferred by Pope Silvester I ...
(abbreviation ''HAM'', oral address ''Your Apostolic Majesty'') – the
King of Hungary The King of Hungary ( hu, magyar király) was the ruling head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 (or 1001) to 1918. The style of title "Apostolic King of Hungary" (''Apostoli Magyar Király'') was endorsed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 ...
, usually styled Imperial Majesty or Imperial and Royal Majesty as Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, also sometimes Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty. *His/Her
Britannic Majesty His Britannic Majesty, or Her Britannic Majesty (HBM), is a treaty title for the monarch of the United Kingdom, a royal style used in international law and diplomacy. It is used on the international plane in the same way that ''His Majesty'' or ' ...
– the
British monarch The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...
(not usual); used as a formal and official term in
diplomacy Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...
, the
law of nation International law (also known as public international law and the law of nations) is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for ...
s, and
international relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such as ...
, e.g. in
British passport A British passport is a travel document issued by the United Kingdom or other British dependencies and territories to individuals holding any form of British nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa requ ...
s. * His/Her
Most Gracious Majesty Most Gracious Majesty is a form of address in the United Kingdom. It is an elaborate version of Your Majesty and is only used in the most formal of occasions. Historical background Around 1519 King Henry VIII decided Majesty should become the s ...
– an elaborate version of His/Her Majesty in the United Kingdom, only used in the most formal of occasions. * His/Her Most Excellent Majesty – another elaborate version of His/Her Majesty in the United Kingdom, mainly used in
Acts of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of parliament ...
. * His/Her
Catholic Majesty The Latin title ''Rex Catholicissimus'', Anglicized as ''Most Catholic King'' or ''Most Catholic Majesty'', was awarded by the Pope to the Sovereigns of Spain. It was first used by Pope Alexander VI in the papal bull ''Inter caetera'' in 1493 ...
(abbreviation ''HCM'', oral address ''Your Catholic Majesty'') – the
King of Spain , coatofarms = File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Spanish_Monarch.svg , coatofarms_article = Coat of arms of the King of Spain , image = Felipe_VI_in_2020_(cropped).jpg , incumbent = Felipe VI , incumbentsince = 19 Ju ...
(not usual). *His
Most Christian Majesty Most or Möst or ''variation'', may refer to: Places * Most, Kardzhali Province, a village in Bulgaria * Most (city), a city in the Czech Republic ** Most District, a district surrounding the city ** Most Basin, a lowland named after the city ** A ...
– the
King of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the first ...
until 1790 and from 1815 to 1830. *His/Her
Faithful Majesty Most Faithful Majesty ( pt, Sua Majestade Fidelíssima) was the title used by the Portuguese monarchs, from 1748 to 1910. The sobriquet Most Faithful King ( la, Rex Fidelissimus, pt, link=no, Rei Fidelíssimo) was a title awarded by the Pope Be ...
(abbreviation ''HFM'', oral address ''Your Faithful Majesty'') – the
King of Portugal This is a list of Portuguese monarchs who ruled from the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal, in 1139, to the deposition of the Portuguese monarchy and creation of the Portuguese Republic with the 5 October 1910 revolution. Through the n ...
until deposed in 1910. *His/Her
Majesty Majesty (abbreviated HM for His Majesty or Her Majesty, oral address Your Majesty; from the Latin ''maiestas'', meaning "greatness") is used as a manner of address by many monarchs, usually kings or queens. Where used, the style outranks the st ...
(abbreviation ''HM'', oral address ''Your Majesty'') – kings, queens and some sultans. For example, HM Queen
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
, HM King
Mohammed VI Muhammad VI may refer to: * Muhammad Imaaduddeen VI (1868–1932), sultan of the Maldives from 1893 to 1902 * Mehmed VI (1861–1926), sultan of Ottoman Empire, from 1918 to 1922 * Mohammed VI of Morocco Mohammed VI ( ar, محمد الساد ...
or HM King
Willem-Alexander Willem-Alexander (; Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born ) is King of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne following his mother's abdication in 2013. Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht as the oldest child of Princess Beatri ...
. *His/Her
Imperial Highness His/Her Imperial Highness (abbreviation HIH) is a style used by members of an imperial family to denote ''imperial'' – as opposed to ''royal'' – status to show that the holder in question is descended from an emperor rather than a king ( ...
(abbreviation ''HIH'', oral address ''Your Imperial Highness'') – members of an imperial house. Currently used by the
Imperial House of Japan The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the House of Yamato, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the Emperor i ...
. *His/Her
Imperial and Royal Highness Imperial and Royal Highness (abbreviation HI&RH) is a style possessed by someone who either through birth or marriage holds two individual styles, ''Imperial Highness'' and ''Royal Highness''. ''His/Her Imperial Highness'' is a style used by membe ...
(abbreviation ''HI&RH'', oral address ''Your Imperial and Royal Highness'') – formerly,
archduke Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: ''Erzherzog'', feminine form: ''Erzherzogin'') was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within ...
s of the
House of Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
, the German crown prince/princess and (post-monarchy) members of the deposed
Brazilian Imperial Family The Brazilian Imperial Family (Brazilian Portuguese: ''Família Imperial Brasileira'') is a Brazilian Dynasty of Portuguese origin that ruled the Empire of Brazil from 1822 in Brazil, 1822 to 1889 in Brazil, 1889, after the proclamation of indepe ...
; also some women entitled to imperial style by birth and to royal style by marriage (e.g.,
Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (russian: Мария Александровна; – 24 October 1920) was the fifth child and only surviving daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia and Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine; she was ...
, Duchess of Edinburgh. *His/Her
Royal Highness Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''. When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
(abbreviation ''HRH'', oral address ''Your Royal Highness'') – some monarchs, members of a
royal family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...
(other than monarchs, queens consort and
queens dowager A queen dowager or dowager queen (compare: princess dowager or dowager princess) is a title or status generally held by the widow of a king. In the case of the widow of an emperor, the title of empress dowager is used. Its full meaning is clear ...
);
grand duke Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. In status, a grand duke traditionally ranks in order of precedence below an emperor, as an approxi ...
s/duchesses who have
reign A reign is the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office of monarch of a nation (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Andorra), of a people (e.g., the Franks, the Zulus) or of a spiritual community (e.g., Catholicism, Tibetan Buddhism, N ...
ed (but not those grand dukes who were
cadet A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
s of the former Russian Imperial Family), consorts of grand dukes, grand ducal
heirs apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
and, in Luxembourg, all dynastic male-line cadets;
British prince Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a royal title normally granted to sons and grandsons of reigning and past British monarchs. The title is granted by the reigning monarch, who is the fount of all honours, thro ...
s, their
dynastic A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A d ...
wives (including the princes consort of queens
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...
and
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
), sons, daughters,
patrilineal Patrilineality, also known as the male line, the spear side or agnatic kinship, is a common kinship system in which an individual's family membership derives from and is recorded through their father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritanc ...
grandsons and granddaughters of
Ibn Saud Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud ( ar, عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن آل سعود, ʿAbd al ʿAzīz bin ʿAbd ar Raḥman Āl Suʿūd; 15 January 1875Ibn Saud's birth year has been a source of debate. It is generally accepted ...
of the
House of Saud The House of Saud ( ar, آل سُعُود, ʾĀl Suʿūd ) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi state (1727–1818), and ...
. * His/Her Grace (oral address ''Your Grace'') is a style used for various high-ranking personages. It was the style used to address
Kings of England This list of kings and reigning queens of the Kingdom of England begins with Alfred the Great, who initially ruled Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms which later made up modern England. Alfred styled himself King of the Anglo-Sax ...
until King
Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
and the King or Queen of Scots up to the
Act of Union of 1707 The Acts of Union ( gd, Achd an Aonaidh) were two Acts of Parliament: the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act 1707 passed by the Parliament of Scotland. They put into effect the te ...
, which united the
Kingdom of Scotland The Kingdom of Scotland (; , ) was a sovereign state in northwest Europe traditionally said to have been founded in 843. Its territories expanded and shrank, but it came to occupy the northern third of the island of Great Britain, sharing a la ...
and the
Kingdom of England The Kingdom of England (, ) was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 12 July 927, when it emerged from various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, until 1 May 1707, when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. On 1 ...
. Today, the style is used when referring to non-royal dukes and duchesses, and archbishops, in the United Kingdom. For example, His Grace The
Duke of Devonshire Duke of Devonshire is a title in the Peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This (now the senior) branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the wealthiest British aristocratic families since the 16th century and has be ...
in the United Kingdom, or His Grace The
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...
; or ''Your Grace'' in spoken or written address. Royal dukes, for example the Duke of York, are addressed with their higher royal style, ''
Royal Highness Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''. When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
''. *His/Her Grand Ducal Highness (abbreviation ''HGDH'', oral address ''Your Grand Ducal Highness'') – cadets of some former ruling grand ducal dynasties (Hesse and by Rhine and Grand Duchy of Baden, Baden). *His/Her Highness (abbreviation ''HH'', oral address, ''Your Highness'') – some monarchs, i.e., emirs, some sultans, the Aga Khan; formerly reigning dukes, some maharajahs and rajahs and the members of their dynasties; cadets of most former grand ducal houses; male-line grandchildren and remoter male-line descendants of some kingly dynasties (i.e., Denmark and formerly Brazil, Italy, Japan, UK, Yugoslavia); Belgium's House of Ligne; members of France's former Foreign Princely class, members of cadet branches of the
House of Saud The House of Saud ( ar, آل سُعُود, ʾĀl Suʿūd ) is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. It is composed of the descendants of Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the Emirate of Diriyah, known as the First Saudi state (1727–1818), and ...
. *His/Her Ducal Serene Highness (abbreviation ''HDSH'', oral address, ''Your Ducal Serene Highness'') – members of the formerly reigning ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. *His/Her Serene Highness (abbreviation ''HSH'', oral address ''Your Serene Highness'') – German: ; Italian: ; Russian: . Sovereigns of a principality (i.e., Liechtenstein, Monaco); members of formerly reigning princely families (Lippe, Schaumburg-Lippe, Waldeck and Pyrmont and Schwarzburg); members of German mediatisation, mediatized families headed by a ("prince"); members of several formerly noble, princely families of Austria, Germany, Bohemia, Hungary and Poland; and a few formerly noble families granted the princely title in Imperial Russia (the style is more literally translated "His/Her Serenity"). *His Serene Highness, Most Serene Highness (abbreviation ''HMSH'', oral address, ''Your Most Serene Highness'') – Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. *His/Her Illustrious Highness (abbreviation ''HIllH'', oral address ''Your Illustrious Highness'', German: ); Italian: ; Spanish: ; Russian: . Mediatized counts and, sometimes, members of their families. *His/Her Princely Grace () - former style for members of a few noble families of monarchical Germany. *The High-born () – counts in some Scandinavian and Benelux monarchies and, formerly, Germany and Austria. *The High Well-born () – Dutch barons; knights and untitled members of the lower nobility in German-speaking monarchies. *His/Her
Excellency Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the right ...
(abbreviation ''HE'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') – governors-general, British colonial governors, state officials, and generals of Imperial Russia. Occasionally,
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
s and cabinet ministers. For example, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands; in Denmark, a few high-ranked nobles (e.g., Danneskiold-Samsøe, Counts af Danneskiold-Samsø, Danish Royal Family#Count of Rosenberg, Counts of Rosenborg, , knights of the Order of the Elephant#Use, Order of the Elephant). *''Don (honorific), Don'' (, , pt, Dom, links=no ), from the Latin word (roughly, "Lord"), is an
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
title used in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Iberoamerica and the Philippines. The female equivalent is (), (), and (), abbreviated as "Dª" or simply "D." Although originally a title reserved for royalty, select nobles, and church hierarchs, it is now often used as a mark of esteem for a person of personal, social or official distinction, such as a community leader of long standing, a person of significant wealth, or a nobility, noble, but it may also be used irony, ironically. As a style, rather than a
title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
or Social rank, rank, it is used with, and not instead of, a person's name. *In Portugal and Brazil, () is used for certain Ordinary (Catholic Church), hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church and for laity, laymen who belong to the royal and imperial families (for example, the House of Aviz in Portugal and the House of Braganza in Portugal and Brazil). It was also accorded to members of families of the titled Portuguese nobility. Unless ennobling letters patent specifically authorised its use, was not attributed to members of Portugal's untitled nobility. Since hereditary titles in Portugal descended according to primogeniture, the right to the style of was the only apparent distinction between
cadet A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
s of titled families and members of untitled noble families. * Most High, Mighty, and Illustrious Prince – for royal dukes, oral address Your Royal Highness. * Son of Heaven – Used by Chinese and some Japanese emperors. * High King * Great King * King of Kings – Used by especially Semitic, Persian and some Indian rulers. * "Taewang" "Greatest of Kings" – was used by the later rulers of the Korean kingdom of Koguryo. * Lord of the Isles – Used by an heir apparent of the British monarchy. * High Steward of Scotland – Used by an heir apparent of the British monarchy. * Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (abbreviation CTHM) ( ar, خادم الحرمين الشريفين ), sometimes translated as Servant of the Two Noble Sanctuaries or Protector of the Two Holy Cities, is a Royal and noble styles, royal style that has been used by many Islamic rulers including the Ayyubids, the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt, the Ottoman Sultans, and the modern King of Saudi Arabia, Saudi kings. The title refers to the ruler taking the responsibility of guarding and maintaining the two holiest mosques in Islam, Al-Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Medina. In Saudi Arabia, it is used as the official title of the king, in place of "His Majesty". *Amīr al-Mu'minīn ( ar, أمير المؤمنين), usually translated Commander of the Faithful or Leader of the Faithful, is the Arabic style of some Caliphate, Caliphs and other independent sovereign Muslim rulers that claim legitimacy from a community of Muslims. It has been claimed as the title of rulers in Muslim countries and empires and is still used for some Muslim leaders. The use of the title does not necessarily signify a claim to caliphate as it is usually taken to be, but described a certain form of activist leadership which may have been attached to a caliph but also could signify a level of authority beneath that. The Ottoman sultans, in particular, made scant use of it. Moreover, the term was used by men who made no claim to be caliphs. Used by the former leader of ISIS Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Ahmadiyya Muslim leader Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the King of Morocco, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the supreme leaders of the Afghan Taliban. *Kabiyesi (variously translated as His or Her Royal Majesty, His or Her Royal Highness or His or Her Highness, lit. ''The One whose words are beyond question'') – Used by the Oba (ruler), Obas of Yorubaland, other aboriginal Yoruba people, Yoruba high chiefs of royal background, and their counterparts in the tribe's diaspora communities.


=Styles and titles of deposed monarchs

= General tradition indicates that monarchs who have ceased to reign but not renounced their hereditary titles, retain the use of their style and title for the duration of their lifetimes, but both die with them. Hence Greece's deposed king is often still styled ''His Majesty Constantine II of Greece, King Constantine II'', as a ''personal'' title, not as occupant of a constitutional office, since the abolition of the monarchy by the Hellenic Republic in 1974. Similarly, until his death, the last King of Italy, Umberto II of Italy, Umberto II, was widely referred to as ''King Umberto II'' and sometimes addressed as ''Your Majesty''. In contrast, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Simeon of Bulgaria who, subsequent to the loss of his throne in 1947, was elected to and held the premiership of his former realm as "Simeon Sakskoburggotski", and therefore is as often referred to by the latter name as by his former royal title and style. While this rule is generally observed, and indeed some exiled monarchs are allowed diplomatic passports by their former realm, other republics officially object to the use of such titles which are, nonetheless, generally accorded by extant monarchical regimes. In 1981, the then Greek President Konstantinos Karamanlis declined to attend the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales when it was revealed that Greece's deposed monarch, a cousin of the Prince, had been referred to as "King" in his invitation. The current Hellenic Republic has challenged King Constantine's right to use his title and his passport was revoked in 1994 because he did not use a surname, as his passport at the time stated "Constantine, former King of the Hellenes". However, Constantine II now travels in and out of Greece on a Danish passport, Danish diplomatic passport as a descendant of Christian IX of Denmark, by the name ''Constantino de Grecia'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "Constantine of Greece").


Republics

*His/Her
Excellency Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the right ...
(abbreviation ''HE'', oral address ''Your Excellency'') – President (government title), Presidents of republics (historically, this was first used to refer to George Washington during his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Army during the American War of Independence; its use for presidents of republics was established as he was the first president of the first modern republic). In some countries also the prime minister, ministers, governors, ambassadors and high commissioners also use this style. *The President of the United States is properly directly addressed as "Mr./Madam President" and introduced as "The President of the United States"; however, His/Her/Your Excellency may properly be used in written communications and is sometimes used in official documents. *The custom in
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
is to call office holders acting within their official capacity or followed by the name of their offices. Thus, the President of the Republic is called or if a male, and if a female. Styles such as "excellency" or similar are not used, except for talking about foreign dignitaries. Traditionally after "Madame", the name of the office is not put into the feminine form, but this is becoming less common (hence, "Madame le président" is being replaced by "Madame la présidente"). *In
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, members of the lower house (Chamber of Deputies) of the Parliament of Italy are styled ''Honourable'' ( it, Onorevole, abbreviation ). The correct form to address a member of the upper house (Senate) is ''Senator'' ( it, Senatore, abbreviation ; even though, for gravitas, they may also be addressed ''Honourable Senator''). *The incumbent president of Finland is addressed (Mr./Ms. President of the Republic), while a former president is addressed as just . *The style used for the President of Ireland is normally His Excellency/Her Excellency ( ga, A Shoilse/A Soilse); sometimes people may orally address the President as 'Your Excellency' ( ga, A Shoilse [ə ˈhəʎʃə]), or simply 'President' ( ga, A Uachtaráin [ə ˈuəxt̪ˠəɾˠaːnˠ] (vocative case)). * During the Republic of the United Netherlands, the States General of the Netherlands, States-General were collectively addressed as "Their High and Mighty Lords" ( nl, Hoogmogende Heren). * The Honourable – Presidents, prime ministers, ministers, governors, members of parliament, senate and congress in some countries. (Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka.)


Medicine

*Doctor – In the United Kingdom, university degrees supporting medical and dental licensure are all bachelor's degrees (MB, MBBS, BDS, MB BS BAO, BMed, etc.). These graduates are addressed as 'doctor' by courtesy and convention. *Mr/Miss/Mrs – Surgeons in the UK revert to the title 'Mr', 'Miss' or 'Mrs' after obtaining the postgraduate qualification Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons, MRCS. Other doctors, on the other hand, retain the title 'Doctor' after obtaining other postgraduate qualifications, such as Membership of the Royal College of Physicians, MRCP.


Nautical and aeronautical

*Captain – a person who commands and is responsible for the lives of crew and passengers on a naval or civil vessel or aircraft. In the US military, ''captain'' is used regardless of the actual rank of the person being addressed. For example, on a US naval vessel commanded by someone holding a rank of lieutenant commander or lower is addressed as "Captain", in reference to his position in command of the ship, not his military rank. This would apply even to an enlisted man in charge of a small boat.


Religious

*His Holiness (abbreviation HH), oral address ''Your Holiness'', or ''Holy Father'' – the Pope and the Pope Emeritus (but ''Holy Father'' is not used for the latter). *His All Holiness (abbreviation ''HAH''), oral address ''Your All Holiness'' – the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. *His Holiness (abbreviation ''HH''), oral address ''Your Holiness'' – the List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Moscow, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Peć and the Serbs, Catholicos of All Armenians, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, List of Armenian Catholicoi of Cilicia, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Indian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Catholicos and some other patriarchs of the Christian Church. *His Holiness (abbreviation ''HH''), oral address ''Your Holiness'' – the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, the Karmapa, the Sakya Trizin, and other holders of certain other Tibetan Buddhist lineages. *His Highness the Aga Khan (abbreviation ''HH the Aga Khan.''), oral address ''Your Highness'' and then ''Sir'' – The Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. *His Beatitude ''or'' The Most Blessed, oral address ''Your Beatitude'' – Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox, Catholicos of India, Syriac Orthodox Catholicos of India, Oriental Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic patriarchs, Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych. If they have been elevated to the cardinalate by the Pope, they use the traditional "His Eminence" like other cardinals (more properly and formally, "His Beatitude and Eminence"). *His Eminence, His Most Eminent Royal Highness (abbreviation ''HMERH''), oral address ''Your Most Eminent Royal Highness'' - The Lord of the Rasulid dynasty, Rasulid Order. *His Most Eminent Highness (abbreviation ''HMEH''), oral address ''Your Most Eminent Highness'' – The Prince of the Church, Prince and Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. *His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em."), oral address ''Your Eminence'' or ''Most Reverend Eminence'' – Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinals *His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") ''or'' The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Eminence'' – Eastern Orthodox Metropolitan bishop, metropolitans and archbishops who are not the first hierarch of an autocephalous church; *His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") – Certain high lamas or rinpoches in Tibetan Buddhism as well as presiding head bishops or priests of Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist schools. *His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") – The Sultan of Sokoto, spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims, as well as those of his fellow Fula people, Fula high chiefs that choose not to style themselves as HRHs. *His Eminence (abbreviation "H.Em.") – The Grand Master of the Murji'ah, Murjite Order. *His Excellency ''or'' The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Excellency'' – Catholic Church, Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops in the United States and Canada (the oral address is not recognized by Canadian civil authorities, who prescribe ''Archbishop/Bishop'' instead); or, *His Grace ''or'' The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' – Roman Catholic archbishops in Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries except Canada; Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland; and Mar Thoma Metropolitans *His Grace ''or'' The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt. Rev.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' – Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox bishops. *Kabiyesi (variously translated as His or Her Royal Majesty, His or Her Royal Highness or His or Her Highness, lit. ''The One whose words are beyond question'') – The Oba (ruler), Obas of Yorubaland, other aboriginal Yoruba people, Yoruba high chiefs of royal background, and their counterparts in the tribe's diaspora communities. *His Lordship ''or'' The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''My Lord'' – Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in Commonwealth countries other than Canada. *The Most Reverend and Right Honourable (abbreviation ''The Most Rev. and Rt Hon.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' – Church of England (Anglican) archbishops who are privy council, privy counsellors, usually the Archbishops of Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury and Archbishop of York, York *The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Your Grace'' – Anglican Communion, Anglican archbishops, Primate (bishop)#Anglican Communion, primates, Metropolitan bishop#Anglican, metropolitans and Presiding Bishop#Anglican, presiding bishops. Canadian Anglican (arch)bishops are orally addressed simply as ''Archbishop/Bishop''. Also Moderators and clerks in the Church of Scotland#Moderators, moderators. *The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''My Lord'' – Church of Ireland (Anglican) Bishop of Meath and Kildare (due to being, historically, the most senior bishop in Ireland) *The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Presiding Bishop'' – the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana *The Most Reverend (abbreviation ''The Most Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' – the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal Church in the United States *The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Monsignor (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev. and Rt Hon. Mgr''), oral address ''Monsignor'', or according to personal preference – Prelate of Honour who is also a Privy Council, privy counsellor (The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Monsignor Graham Leonard KCVO). *The Right Reverend and Right Honourable (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev. and Rt Hon.''), oral address ''Bishop'' or ''My Lord'' (old-fashioned) – Church of England (Anglican) bishops who are members of the Privy Council, usually the Bishop of London. *The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' or ''My Lord'' (old-fashioned) – other Church of England bishops *The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' – bishops Episcopal Church (United States) *The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Mr./Mrs./Ms. (surname)'' – Moderator of the United Church of Canada or of the Presbyterian Church in Canada *The Right Reverend Father (abbreviation ''The Rt. Rev. Fr.''), oral address ''Father'' – Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox archimandrites. *The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt. Rev.''), oral address ''Father'' or ''Father Abbot'' – Roman Catholic abbots. *The Right Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rt Rev.''), oral address ''Bishop'' – diocesan bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana *Bishop, oral address ''Bishop'' – an area bishop in the United Methodist Church. The Right Reverend has never been pervasive in the United Methodist Church. *His Divine Worship, or (His) Divine Worship: The Bishop (abbreviation ''DW:TB''), oral address ''Your Divine Worship'', afterwards ''My Lord'', ''My Lord Bishop'', or ''Bishop'' – a bishop in one of the Personal Ordinariates for former Anglicans, especially the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. If the ordinary is merely a priest and not a bishop, then he is styled His Divine Worship, or (His) Divine Worship: The Ordinary (abbreviation ''DW:TO''), also His Divine Worship: the Reverend Monsignor, as applicable. The first oral address remains ''Your Divine Worship'', but afterwards reverts simply to ''Father'' or ''Monsignor''. *The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev. ''), oral address ''Father'' – Catholic vicars general, judicial vicars,
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
s, rectors of seminaries, vicar forane, vicars forane, episcopal vicars, general superiors of religious orders of priests, provincial superiors, priors of monasteries or friaries *The Very Reverend Father (abbreviation ''The Very Rev. Fr.''), oral address ''Father'' – Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox archpriests *The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Mr/Madam Dean'' or ''Mr/Madam Provost'', as appropriate, or ''Very Reverend Sir/Madam'' – Anglican Dean (Christianity), deans and Provost (religion)#Anglican Church, provosts of cathedrals, the deans of Westminster Abbey and St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, St George's Chapel, Windsor, and, for historical reasons, a few incumbent (ecclesiastical), parish priests, such as the Braintree, Essex, Dean of Bocking. Sometimes an Anglican cathedral dean has previously been a bishop, in which case he or she is styled as a bishop, but on formal occasions may be addressed ''Mr/Madam Dean''. Canadian deans are orally addressed as ''Dean'' only. *The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Very Reverend Sir/Madam'' or ''Mr/Madam Dean'' – Dean (Christianity), Deans of some Anglican seminaries, especially Episcopal Church (United States), those in the United States *The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Osofo Panin'' – Superintendent minister in the Methodist Church Ghana *The Very Reverend (abbreviation ''The Very Rev.''), oral address ''Reverend'' – former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, moderators of the United Church of Canada and of the Presbyterian Church in Canada; the Canadian government prescribes the oral address ''Mr./Mrs./Ms. (surname)'' *The Reverend Monsignor (abbreviation ''The Rev. Msgr.''), oral address ''Monsignor'' – Catholic Church protonotaries apostolic, honorary prelates, chaplains of his holiness *The Venerable, oral address ''Venerable Sir/Madam'' or ''Mr/Madam Archdeacon'' – Anglican archdeacons; in Canada, they are orally addressed as ''Archdeacon'' only *Venerable (abbreviation "Ven."), oral address "Venerable" or "Venerable <name or title>" – fully ordained Bhikkhu, Buddhist monks and Bhikkhuni, nuns, the title of ''Venerable Master'' or ''Most Venerable'' is sometimes appended for senior monks and nuns or monks/nuns acting in their capacity as an abbot/abbess of a monastery *The Reverend and Right Honourable (abbreviation ''The Revd and Rt Hon.'') – Protestant ordained ministers who are members of the Privy Council (e.g. the late Ian Paisley) *The Reverend the Honourable (abbreviation ''The Rev. the Hon.''), oral address according to ecclesiastical or other status – ordained son of an earl, viscount, or baron, or ordained daughter of a viscount or baron (unless also a privy counsellor or peer) *The Very Reverend (abbreviation "The Very Rev."), oral address: "Overseer" – in the Anglican-Apostolic Communion (Pentecostal) tradition, the overseer is the lowest level of prelate (only non–consecrated bishop prelate), with oversight to a specific work or department, directly responsible to the primate/presiding bishop or an ordinary/diocesan bishop. *The Reverend (abbreviation ''The Rev.'' or ''The Rev'd'') – Protestant and Anglican ordained ministers (common variants include ''Pastor'', ''Parson'', ''Vicar'', or simply ''Reverend'' (Rev.), as used in American English; see: The Reverend) ); some Jewish cantors also use this style, almost all Buddhist ministers in Japan use this style *The Reverend Canon (abbreviation ''The Rev. Canon''), oral address ''Canon'' – Catholic and Anglican canons *The Reverend Doctor (abbreviation ''The Rev. Dr.''), oral address ''Father'' or ''Doctor'' – Priests and other ordained clergy with a doctorate *The Reverend Father (abbreviation ''The Rev. Fr.''), oral address ''Father'' – Catholic (and many Anglican) priests *The Reverend Mother (abbreviation ''The Rev. Mo.''), oral address ''Mother'' – Abbesses (also, some female Anglican priests ) *The Reverend Deacon (abbreviation ''Rev. Deacon''), oral address ''Deacon'' Catholic permanent Deacons. *The Reverend Mister (abbreviation ''The Rev. Mr.''), oral address ''Deacon'' – Catholic transitional deacons, i.e. those preparing for priesthood. Transitional deacons belonging to religious orders (monastic and non-monastic) are titled Reverend Brother, (similar situations and modifications apply to Anglican deacons as in ''The Rev. Fr./Mthr'', above; since women can be deacons, these may be ''The Revd Ms'') *Mother, oral address ''Mother'' – heads of some female Catholic religious convents and other communities who are not abbesses *Mister (abbreviation ''Mr.''), oral address ''Mister'' – Catholic Sulpician priests *Mister (abbreviation ''Mr.''), oral address often ''Mister'' – Catholic seminarians and scholastics (members preparing for priesthood) of ''some'' religious orders (notably, Jesuits). *Father (pater) *Brother (abbreviation ''Bro.''), oral address ''Brother'' – Catholic members of religious orders under vows (both monastic and non-monastic) who are not priests. *Sister (abbreviation ''Sr.''), oral address ''Sister'' – Catholic members of religious orders under vows (both monastic and non-monastic) who are not abbesses. * Elder (Latter Day Saints), Elder: used generally for male missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and for members of the adult leadership known as the general authorities. Although most all male adults of the LDS church are elders, the title is reserved for the prior mentioned groups. *Grand Rabbi, oral address ''Rabbi'' – Hasidic Judaism, Hasidic rabbis, who are scions of a Hasidic Dynasty. *''Don'' (, , pt, Dom, links=no ) from Latin Dominus (title), ''dominus'', (roughly, "Lord") is an
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
title used in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Iberoamerica and the Philippines. The female equivalent is ''doña'' (), ''donna'' (), and ''dona'' (), abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D." Although originally a title reserved for royalty, select nobles, and church hierarchs, it is now often used as a mark of esteem for a person of personal, social or official distinction, such as a community leader of long standing, a person of significant wealth, or a nobility, noble, but may also be used irony, ironically. As a style, rather than a
title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
or Social rank, rank, it is used with, and not instead of, a person's name. * Dom (title), Dom is an
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
prefixed to the given name. It derives from the Latin ''Dominus (title), Dominus''. It is used in English for certain Benedictine (including some communities which follow the Rule of St. Benedict) and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation (e.g. John Chapman OSB, Dom John Chapman, late Downside Abbey, Abbot of Downside). The equivalent female usage for such a monastic is "Dame (title), Dame" (e.g. Dame Laurentia McLachlan, late Stanbrook Abbey, Abbess of Stanbrook, or Dame Felicitas Corrigan, author). **''Dom'' has historically been used on occasions in French, as an honorific for Benedictine monks, such as the famous ''Dom Pérignon (monk), Dom Pérignon''. *Rabbi, oral address ''Rabbi'' (or, if holder of the appropriate degree, ''Doctor'' both in oral and written communication) – rabbis *Grand Ayatullah, oral address ''Ayatullah'' or ''Ayatullah al-Uzma'' – Shiite Islam, Shia Ayatullahs, who have accomplished the highest religious jurisprudent knowledge degree called as marja' and some people officially follow them. *Ayatullah, oral address ''Ayatullah'' – Shiite Islam, Shia religious degree who has accomplished a religious high course of lessons and is capable of individually issuing religious verdicts. *Amīr al-Mu'minīn ( ar, أمير المؤمنين), usually translated Commander of the Faithful or Leader of the Faithful, is the Arabic style of some Caliphate, Caliphs and other independent sovereign Muslim rulers that claim legitimacy from a community of Muslims. It has been claimed as the title of rulers in Muslim countries and empires and is still used for some Muslim leaders. The use of the title does not necessarily signify a claim to caliphate as it is usually taken to be, but described a certain form of activist leadership which may have been attached to a caliph but also could signify a level of authority beneath that. The Ottoman sultans, in particular, made scant use of it. Moreover, the term was used by men who made no claim to be caliphs. Currently used by the Caliph of ISIS Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Caliph, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the King of Morocco, The Sultan of Sokoto, The supreme leaders of the Afghan Taliban. *Cantor, oral address ''Cantor'' (some cantors use ''The Reverend'' as style, as above) – Jewish Hazzan, cantors *Reverend, oral address ''Reverend'', ''Mister'' or ''Brother'' – ordained ministers/pastors *Pastor (abbreviation "Pr"), oral address 'Pastor" – minister responsible for caring for the "flock" in Lutheran churches *Pandit (sometimes spelled ''Pundit'') – Hinduism, Hindu priests *Swami – in Hinduism an ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into a religious monastic order. Informally, "Swamiji". *Officers of The Salvation Army are addressed by their rank, e.g. "Captain" (Capt.), "Major" (Maj.), etc. *A wide variety of titles for Neo-pagan religions; Lord/Lady, Father/Mother, and High Priest/Priestess are common


In different countries


Australia

* His/Her Majesty – The King or Monarchy of Australia, Queen of Australia * His/Her Excellency
The Honourable ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...
– Governor-General of Australia, Governor-General and his or her spouse, and The Honourable or His/Her Excellency for the rest of state governors (but not their spouse) *The Honourable – all current and former Governor-General of Australia, governors-general and Administrators of the Northern Territory, Justices of the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia, the Family Court of Australia and state supreme courts *The Honourable – all current and former members of the Federal Executive Council and all current members of state Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), executive councils and certain former members of state executive councils and long-serving members of state Legislative Councils (upper houses of state parliaments) that have been given the right to keep the title by permission of the governor of that state. *His/Her Honour (oral address ''Your Honour'') – magistrates and judges in appellate, district and county courts. *The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor – Lord mayors of Australian cities *His/Her Worship – Administrators of territories (obsolete), magistrates (obsolete) and mayors.


Brunei

Known as ''terasul'' in the Malay language. * ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia (Kebawah DYMM)'', equivalent to His or Majesty, Her Majesty (HM) – for Sultan of Brunei, Sultan and his first royal consort. The style is added more depends on the situation: **Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan, for Sultan before coronation. **Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan, for Sultan after coronation. **Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Isteri for the queen consort before coronation **Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri for the queen consort after coronation **Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Raja — for the second wife of the Sultan during coronation * ''Kebawah Duli'', for a Sultan that has not gone through puberty. * ''Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Isteri'', for the second wife of the Sultan after coronation * ''Duli Yang Teramat Mulia (DYTM)'', equivalent to His or Royal Highness, Her Royal Highness (HRH) – for the Crown Prince and his consort and for the abdicated Sultan and his consort. ** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan — for Sultan that abdicated from the throne ** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Suri Seri Begawan Raja — for the Sultan's consort when the Sultan abdicated from the throne ** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota — for the Crown Prince ** Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri — for the Crown Prince's consort * ''Yang Teramat Mulia (YTM)'', to His or Royal Highness, Her Royal Highness (HRH) – for the children of the Sultan that were born by their royal mother (both parents of the royal mother are royalties and not a commoner) ** Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Duli Pengiran Muda — for the Sultan's son that has full royal blood ** Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri— for the Sultan's daughter by a royal mother (non-commoner) ** Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Babu Raja — for the Queen Consort's mother * ''Yang Amat Mulia (YAM)'', for the consort of a royal prince and their children, and for the Sultan's children by their commoner mother ** Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri — for the consort of the Sultan's son (full royal blood) ** Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda — for the son (full royal blood) of the Sultan's son (full royal blood) ** Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak — for the children of the Sultan that were born by a commoner mother; daughter (full royal blood) of the Sultan's son (full royal blood); children (full royal blood) of the Sultan's daughter (full royal blood); children (full royal blood) of the Sultan's children (half royal blood) * ''Yang Mulia (YM)'' ** Yang Mulia Pengiran Anak — for the children that both parents hold the title ''Pengiran Anak'' ** Yang Mulia Pengiran — for the children of a Pengiran Anak and his wife that is not also a Pengiran Anak; non-royal Pengiran (a commoner Pengiran)


Canada

*His/Her Majesty – Monarchy of Canada, King/Queen of Canada *His/Her Excellency – Governor General of Canada, Governor General, Viceregal consort of Canada, vice-regal consort,
ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
s, and High Commissioner (Commonwealth), high commissioners ''in office'' *
The Right Honourable ''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The term is ...
– Governors general, Prime Minister of Canada, prime ministers, Chief Justice of Canada, chief justices of Canada and certain eminent Canadians ''for life'' *His/Her Honour – Lieutenant governor (Canada), Lieutenant-governors and viceregal consorts ''in office'' *The Honourable **''For life'' – Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada, Senate of Canada, senators and lieutenant-governors **''In office only'' – Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Speaker of the House of Commons, Minister of the Crown, ministers of the Crown (however federal ministers invariably enter the Privy Council upon their initial appointment, thus assuming the honorific for life), judges of provincial courts, Premier (Canada), premiers of provinces and territories, Commissioner#Canadian territories, territorial commissioners, and provincial and territorial cabinet ministers ***Note: Members of Parliament are often referred to in the House of Commons as "the honourable member for (Electoral district (Canada), riding)" but do not use the style ''honourable'' with their name. *The Honourable Mr/Madam Justice – Chief justices of province and justices of superior courts *His/Her Worship – Justices of the peace, magistrates and municipal leaders ''in office''


Chile

*His Excellency - granted to the President of Chile, President, and some senior members of the judiciary. *The Honourable - granted to Senate of Chile, Senators, members of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, Chamber of Deputies, and other authorities.


Guernsey

* Seigneur or Dame - Registered owners of an ancient Norman fief or seigneurie in Guernsey who have registered their Fief with the Crown and Royal Courts. Under the Feudal Dues law of 1980, the government of Guernsey sanctions the use of the style and distinction of Seigneur or Dame.


New Zealand

* Partial source: * His/Her Majesty – King/ Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand * His/Her Excellency – the current Governor-General (and the Governor-General's spouse). * The Right Honourable – the current and former prime ministers, the current and former Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Speakers of the Parliament of New Zealand, the current and former chief justices, the current and former governors general, and those who were appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom prior to New Zealand ceasing appeals to it in 2003. * The Honourable – the current and former ministers of the Crown, the current and former judges of the Supreme, High and Appeal courts * His/Her Honour – judges of district courts * His/Her Worship – mayors of territorial authorities and justices of the peace.


Jamaica

The Most Honourable – In Jamaica, Governor-General of Jamaica, governors-general, as well as their spouses, are entitled to be styled "The Most Honourable" upon receipt of the Jamaican Order of the Nation."National Awards of Jamaica"
, Jamaica Information Service, accessed 12 May 2015.
Prime Minister of Jamaica, Prime ministers and their spouses are also styled this way upon receipt of the Order of the Nation, which is only given to Jamaican governors-general and prime ministers.


India

His Excellency/Her Excellency is used before the name of President of India as well as before of governors of the states. However, it is not mandatory for an Indian citizen to use this style to address the president or the governors after a notification from the President House. But it is mandatory for foreigners to address the president and governors. Your Honour/My Lord – It is used before the names of judges but now it is also not mandatory. The Supreme Court of India, Supreme Court in a hearing said that people need to respect the judges and "Sir" is sufficient for it.


Royal styles in India

With a long history of rulers, there are many styles which vary from territory to territory and languages for royal families in India, commonly Maharaja (for king), Maharani (queen) whereas for their successors Raja, Rani (Maha meaning "Great" removed). Rajkumar (for prince) and Rajkumari (for princess). Others include Hukam (commonly in Rajasthan), Sardar (kings in territories of Punjab within Sikh Empire), Padishah, Badshah (Mughal Empire), Vazeer-e-Aala (in Mughal Empire) etc.


African traditional rulers

In most of Africa, many styles are used by Monarchies in Africa, traditional royalty. Generally the vast majority of the members of these royal families use the titles Prince and Princess, while the higher ranked amongst them also use either Highness or
Royal Highness Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''. When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...
to describe secondary appellations in their native languages that they hold in their realms, appellations that are intended to highlight their relative proximity to their thrones, either literally in the sense of the extant kingships of the continent or symbolically in the sense of its varied Chief of the Name, chiefships of the name, and which therefore serve a function similar to the said styles of Highness and Royal Highness. For example, the Yoruba people of West Africa usually make use of the word Kabiyesi when speaking either to or about their monarch, sovereigns and other royals. As such, it is variously translated as Majesty, Royal Highness or Highness depending on the actual rank of the person in question, though a literal translation of the word would read more like this: ''He (or She) whose words are beyond questioning, Great Lawgiver of the Nation''. Within the Zulu Kingdom of Southern Africa, meanwhile, the monarch and other senior royals are often addressed as uNdabezitha meaning ''He (or She) Who Concerns the Enemy'', but rendered in English as Majesty in address or reference to the king and his consorts, or Royal Highness in the case of other senior members of the royal family.


Hong Kong

The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Chief Executive is styled as The Honourable. Certain senior government officials (such as the Chief Secretary for Administration), President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, President of the Legislative Council, members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, Executive Council, and members of the judiciary (such as the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal) are also styled as ''The Honourable''.


Ireland

In Republic of Ireland, Ireland, holders of offices with Irish language, Irish names are usually addressed in English by its Irish declension#Nominative, nominative form (so, 'Taoiseach' and 'Tánaiste'), though the Irish declension#Vocative, Irish vocative forms differ (''a Thaoisigh'' and ''a Thánaiste''). President of Ireland#Official residence, salute, style and address, The President may be styled 'His/Her Excellency' ( ga, A Shoilse, / ''A Soilse'' ) and addressed 'Your Excellency' (Irish: ''A Shoilse''), or simply 'President' (Irish: ''A Uachtaráin'' ). The titles 'Government of Ireland, Minister' and 'Seanad Éireann, Senator' are used as forms of address; only the latter as a style. A Teachta Dála, TD (''Teachta Dála'') is formally addressed and styled as 'Deputy', though often simply ''Mr'', ''Mrs'', etc. Similarly, local government in the Republic of Ireland, county and city councillors can be addressed as 'Councillor', abbreviated ''Cllr.'' which is used as a written style, but are just as frequently addressed as ''Mr'', ''Mrs'' etc.


Malaysia

* ''Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia (KDYMM)—'' ** equivalent to Majesty, His or Her Majesty, is for Yang di-Pertuan Agong and His Majesty's consort, the Raja Permaisuri Agong, with the prefix ''Seri Paduka Baginda'' added after ''KDYMM.'' ** equivalent to Royal Highness, His or Her Royal Highness, is for''—'' *** the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan and the Sultanah of Kedah *** the Sultan of Pahang *** the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan and Sultanah of Terengganu *** the Sultan of Kelantan *** the Regent of Pahang * ''Duli Yang Maha Mulia (DYMM)—'' ** equivalent to Majesty, His or Her Majesty, is for the Sultan of Johor, Sultan and the Permaisuri of Johor. ** equivalent to Royal Highness, His or Her Royal Highness, is for''—'' *** the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan *** the Raja of Perlis, Raja and the Raja Perempuan of Perlis *** the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor *** the Sultan of Perak, with the prefix ''Paduka Seri'' added after ''DYMM.'' *** the Raja Permaisuri of Perak *** the Sultanah of Pahang *** the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan *''Yang Maha Mulia (YMM),'' equivalent to Her Royal Highness, His or Her Royal Highness, is for all widowed consorts. * ''Kebawah Duli Yang Teramat Mulia (KDYTM)'', equivalent to Her Highness, His or Her Highness, is for''—'' ** the Tengku Mahkota and the Tengku Puan of Pahang ** the Yang di-Pertuan Muda and the Tengku Puan Muda of Terengganu * ''Duli Yang Teramat Mulia (DYTM)'', equivalent to Her Highness, His or Her Highness is for''—'' ** the Raja Muda and the Raja Puan Muda of Kedah ** the Raja Muda and the Raja Puan Besar of Perak ** the Raja Muda and the Raja Puan Muda of Selangor ** the Tengku Mahkota and the Tengku Ampuan Mahkota of Kelantan * ''Yang Teramat Mulia (YTM)'', equivalent to Her Highness, His or Her Highness, is for''—'' ** Undang, Ruling chiefs and Princes of Four of Negeri Sembilan ** Senior royal family members in royal states * ''Duli Yang Amat Mulia (DYAM)'', equivalent to Her Highness, His or Her Highness, is for''—'' ** the Tunku Mahkota and the Tunku Ampuan Mahkota of Johor ** the Raja di-Hilir and the Raja Puan Muda of Perak * ''Yang Amat Mulia (YAM)'', equivalent to His Highness, His or Her Highness, is for royal family members. * ''Yang Mulia (YM)'', equivalent to His Highness, His or Her Highness, is for extended royal family members. * ''Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT)'', equivalent to His or Her Excellency, is for Yang di-Pertua Negeri, governors, High Commissioner (Commonwealth), high commissioners and
ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
s. * ''Yang Amat Berhormat (Mulia) (YABM/YAB)'', equivalent to the Right Honourable, is for Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Minister, the Chief Minister. * ''Yang Berhormat (Mulia) (YBM/YB)'', equivalent to the Honourable, is for''—'' ** Cabinet of Malaysia, Federal ministers and ministers of state of Sabah and Sarawak ** Cabinet of Malaysia, Federal deputy ministers ** members of Johor Royal Court ** assistant ministers of state of Sabah and Sarawak ** members of State Executive Councils ** members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies ** State Secretaries ** State Legal Advisers in the states of Peninsular Malaysia ** State Financial Officers in the states of Peninsular Malaysia ** persons receiving the title of "''Dato'"'' and "''Datin Paduka"'' from Johor * ''Yang Amat Arif (YAA)'', equivalent to the Right Honourable, is for chief judges. * ''Yang Arif (YA)'', equivalent to Honourable, the Honourable, is for''—'' ** judges and judicial commissioners ** Attorney-General of the State of Sarawak * ''Yang Amat Dihormati (YAD)'', equivalent to the Right Honourable, is for royal representatives in districts of Selangor. * ''Yang Dihormati (YDh.)'', equivalent to the Honourable, is for''—'' ** selected Orang Besar Negeri of Perak ** high and senior police officers * ''Yang Amat Berbahagia (YABhg.)'' is for''—'' ** spouses of governors ** spouses of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chief Minister ** persons with the title of "''Tun''" ** the Orang Besar Empat of Perak ** spouses of ''Yang Amat Dihormati'' * ''Yang Berbahagia (YBhg.)'' is for''—'' ** the top officials of the Government of Malaysia, Federal Government, namely Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, Chief Secretary to the Government, Attorney General of Malaysia, Attorney General, Chief of Defence Forces (Malaysia), Chief of Defence Force, Inspector-General of Police (Malaysia), Inspector-General of Police, Director General of Public Service and Secretary General of Ministries, with or without any title ** the Orang Besar Lapan of Perak ** persons with the title of "''Tan Sri''" and "''Datuk''", or equivalent, and their spouses ** spouses of high commissioners and ambassadors ** spouses of ''Yang Berhormat'', ''Yang Amat Arif'', ''Yang Arif'', ''Yang Dihormati'', ''Yang Berbahagia'', ''Yang Amat Setia'', ''Sahibus Samahah'', ''Sahibul Fadhilah'' and ''Sahibus Saadah'' * ''Yang Amat Berusaha (YABrs.)'' is for higher public officers without any title in Kelantan. * ''Yang Berusaha (YBrs.)'' is for''—'' ** high public officers without any title and their spouses ** spouses of ''Yang Amat Berusaha'' and ''Yang Setia'' * ''Yang Amat Setia (YAS)'' is for high military officers without any title. * ''Yang Setia (YS)'' is for senior military officers without any title. * ''Sahibus Samahah (SS)'', equivalent to His Eminence, is for State Muftis''. '' * ''Sahibul Fadhilah (SF)'', equivalent to His Grace, is for State Deputy Muftis, Qadhi, Qadis and senior Ulamas. * ''Sahibus Saadah'', equivalent to ''Yang Berbahagia'', is special for the Director of Islamic Affairs of Selangor.


Morocco

* His Majesty – The King of Morocco. * His Imperial Majesty – The king of Morocco, Sultan of Morocco (before 1957, now obsolete). * His/Her Royal Highness – Prince and princess of Morocco (used for children, grandchildren and siblings of the king as well as for the Princess Consort). * His/Her Highness – Prince and princess of Morocco (used for cousins, uncles and aunts of the king).


Philippines

*His/Her Excellency – The president of the Philippines. The title in Filipino language, Filipino is (The Well-Esteemed President). The honorific for the President of the Philippines was adopted from the title of the governor-general of the Philippines during Spanish and American colonial periods. The president may be addressed as "Your Excellency" or more informally as "Mr. President" or "Madam(e) President". *The Honorable – The vice president of the Philippines, members of the Congress of the Philippines, justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, governors and vice governors of provinces, mayors and vice mayors of cities or municipalities, and other elected or appointed officials in the government. The title is also conferred to elected and appointed officials of student or other people's organizations that have great participation in creating, implementing, and interpreting policies of the organization. The title in Filipino is (The Honorable). In Senate and congressional inquiries, impeachment procedures, and electoral canvasses, senators, representatives, and officials of the Commission on Elections (Philippines), Commission on Elections when they convene as provincial and national boards of canvassers, are mostly addressed as ''Your Honor'', because they perform quasi-judicial functions. *His Magnificence the Very Reverend - Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas, The rector magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas, Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. *Sir/Madam(e) – Common informal manner of address. *Illustrious Knight, Sir/Lady – Titles for members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, the Philippines' only order of knighthood created by law. *Paduka Mahasari Maulana al Sultan – The sultan of Sulu.


Spain

*His/Her Majesty – the King of Spain, monarch of Spain, when referred to as monarch. When referred to as Head of State, he is usually styled "His Excellency the Head of State". *His/Her Royal Highness – the Prince of Asturias and the Infantes (non-heir apparent royal princes). *His/Her Excellency () – spouses and children of the Infantes, Grandees of Spain, ministers, either from the central government () or from autonomous government (), as well as regional presidents. Mayors and town councils. *His/Her Illustriousness () – marquesses, counts, viscounts, junior ministers either from the central government () or from autonomous government (), justices (), certain prosecutors, members of the royal academies and the holders of certain Spanish decorations. *His/Her Most Excellent and Magnificent Lord – Rector of a university. *His Lordship/Her Ladyship () – barons, seigneurs, members of parliament, judges, court clerks.


Thailand

* His/Her
Majesty Majesty (abbreviated HM for His Majesty or Her Majesty, oral address Your Majesty; from the Latin ''maiestas'', meaning "greatness") is used as a manner of address by many monarchs, usually kings or queens. Where used, the style outranks the st ...
– The King and Queen of Thailand. * His/Her Royal Highness – Prince and princess of Thailand (used for children and grandchildren of the king)'' ''from "Chao Fa, Chao-Fa" ''(เจ้าฟ้า)'' (the most senior rank of prince/princess) to "Phra Chao Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao" ''(พระเจ้าวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า) ''(a mid-level, lesser class of prince and princess than Chao Fa). This style is also used for princess consort (now obsolete). * His/Her Highness – Prince and princess of Thailand of the rank "Phra Worawong Ther Phra ong chao, Phra Ong Chao" ''(พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้า)'' which are born in the title as Mom Chao to whom the king later granted this higher title, either as recognition of merit, or as a special favour. * His/Her Serene Highness – Prince and princess of title Mom Chao (m)/Mom Chao Ying (f) (''หม่อมเจ้า/หม่อมเจ้าหญิง'', abbreviated in Thai as ม.จ. or in English as M.C.) is the most junior class still considered royalty. This is normally when surnames first appear among royal lineages. They are either: Children of a male Chao Fa and a commoner.Children of a male Phra ong chao, Phra Ong Chao. Informally, they are styled "Than Chai" (m)... /"Than Ying" (f)... ''(ท่านชาย.../ท่านหญิง...)''. * The Honourable – Mom Rajawongse (''หม่อมราชวงศ์'', RTGS: Mom Ratchawong; abbreviated in Thai as ม.ร.ว. or in English as M.R. and also translated into English as ''The Honourable'') is the title assumed by children of male Mom Chao. The title is pronounced "Mom Rachawong". Informally, they may be styled as "Khun Chai" (m).../ "Khunying" (f)... ''(คุณชาย.../คุณหญิง...).''


United Kingdom

* His/Her Majesty – the King/ Elizabeth II, Queen. *Royal Highness, His Royal Highness, oral address Your Royal Highness – royal princes. *Royal Highness, Her Royal Highness, oral address Your Royal Highness – royal princesses. *Grace (style), His Grace (oral address ''Your Grace'' or Duke) – Dukes. Occasionally the
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...
, the Archbishop of York and other archbishops are also styled His Grace. Duchesses are likewise styled Her Grace. *Lord – male marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons, as well as some of their sons. (Style: Your Lordship or My Lord.) *Lady – Marquess, marchionesses, Earl, countesses, viscountesses, baronesses, and the wives of baronets and knights. (Style: Ma'am.) *Sir – males, formally if they have a Knighthood, British knighthood or if they are a baronet. *Dame – female knights and baronetesses Suo jure, in their own right (''suo jure''). *
The Right Honourable ''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The term is ...
signifies membership of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, but does not confer any other title, and is also a formal style of address for certain holders of peerages, namely earls, viscounts, barons, and Lords of Parliament. *The Right Honourable and Reverend – as the previous explanation, used if the holder is also an ordained clergyman (parliamentary usage). *The Honourable – younger sons of earls, all children of viscounts and barons, or Lords of Parliament. "The Right Honourable" is added as a prefix to the name of various collective entities such as: * The Right Honourable the Spiritual and Temporal Lords (of the Kingdom of England) in the House of Lords. * The Right Honourable the Lord-Commissioners of the Board of Admiralty. *The Most Honourable – marquesses, The Lords of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. * His Worship is an honorific prefix for mayors, Justice of the peace, justices of the peace and magistrates in present or former Commonwealth realms. In spoken address, these officials are addressed as Your Worship or referred to as His Worship. In Australia all states now use His Honour, Your Honour as the form of address for magistrates (the same as has always been used for judges in higher courts). *The Much Honoured – Scottish feudal barons and lairds


Styles existing through marriage in the United Kingdom

Styles can be acquired through marriage, although traditionally this applies more to wives of office-holders than to husbands. Thus, in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, Anne, Princess Royal, is styled Her Royal Highness (HRH), her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, bears no courtesy style by virtue of being her husband (although his mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, has since knighted him), nor do her children bear any title or style, by right or tradition, despite being in the line of succession to the Crown, until 2015 subject to the Royal Marriages Act 1772. In contrast, when Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, she became HRH the Countess of Wessex (&c.) and their children are entitled (although they do not use them) to the princely prefix and the style of HRH, and do bear courtesy titles derived from their father. Styles and titles can change when a marriage is dissolved. The Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, Diana Frances Spencer held the style Her Royal Highness during her marriage to HRH The Prince of Wales and the title Princess of Wales. When the couple divorced she lost her style: she became instead ''Diana, Princess of Wales''. (although she fit the criteria which customarily accords the prefix of "Lady" to the daughter of an earl, and she had been known as such prior to marriage, she did not revert to that title following divorce). When applied to the current Princess of Wales, inclusion of a definite article ("The Princess of Wales"), is, like HRH, part of the style which accompanies the title. When Charles was remarried to Camilla Parker-Bowles in compliance with the Royal Marriages Act, she lawfully became HRH The Princess of Wales but, as was the announced intention prior to the couple's wedding, she continues to use the lesser title derived from her husband's Duchy of Cornwall and is known as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall because the strong association to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. From the divorce until her death in 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales ceased to hold any royal style, although the monarch declared that she remained a Princess of the United Kingdom and in occasions when members of the Royal Family appeared in public, she continued to be accorded the same royal precedence. When Sarah, Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson was divorced from her husband, HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, she too lost her HRH style, the rank as a British Princess and was re-styled as "Sarah, Duchess of York". In 1936, Wallis Simpson was denied the HRH style by George VI when she married his older brother, the former Edward VIII, who became HRH the Duke of Windsor following his abdication and receipt of a peerage.


United States

The names of most current and former elected federal and state officials and judges in the United States are styled "
The Honorable ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...
" in writing, (e.g., "The Honorable Mike Rawlings, Mayor of the City of Dallas"). Many are addressed by their title in conversation as "Mister" or "Madam" ("Mr. President", "Madam Mayor") or simply by their name with their appropriate title e.g., "Senator Jones" or "Commissioner Smith". Continued use of a title after leaving office depends on the office: those of which there is only one at a time (e.g., president, speaker, governor, or mayor) are only officially used by the current office holder. However, titles for offices of which there are many concurrent office holders (e.g., ambassador, senator, judge, professor or military ranks, especially colonel and above) are retained for life: A retired US Army general is addressed as "General (Name)" officially and socially for the rest of their life. Military retirees are entitled to receive pay and are still counted as members of the United States Armed Forces. Accordingly, all retired military ranks are retained for life pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code. In the case of the President, while the title is officially dropped after leaving office – e.g., Dwight Eisenhower reverted to his prior style "General Eisenhower" in retirement – it is still widely used as an informal practice; e.g., Jimmy Carter is still often called President Carter. The Vice President is typically referred to as "former Vice President", such as "former Vice President Mike Pence." Similarly, governors are typically addressed in later life as "Governor (Name)", particularly if running for further political office. Mitt Romney, for example, was frequently referred to as "Governor Romney" during his Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign, 2012 presidential campaign and was addressed as such formally in the debates, having been Governor of Massachusetts until 2007. *The names of judges are styled "The Honorable" in writing, and orally in court as "Your Honor", or by name after "Judge". Chief Justice of the United States, Chief justices of supreme courts are addressed orally as "Mr. or Madam Chief Justice" or "Chief Justice"; associate justices by name with "Justice" (or, simply "Justice"). *The names of mayors are styled "The Honorable" in writing. In municipalities (e.g., New York City and Chicago), mayors are addressed in conversation as "Your Honor". This may be a vestige of the fact that the mayors (and some others) were also magistrates of the court system. *His or Her Excellency (oral address "Excellency", "Your Excellency") was once customarily used of governors of states, though this has given way to "The Honorable", the form used to address all elected officials in the United States. "Excellency" has continued in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Virginia and the states of South Carolina, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. *The names of members of the House of Representatives are similarly styled in writing as "The Honorable". Orally they are traditionally addressed by name as "Mr." or "Ms.", but as a practice are sometimes addressed as "Representative" or "Congressman" or "Congresswoman" when it is necessary or desirable to specify the member's status. It is advisable to follow the preference of the individual official. Following precedence in Westminster style of parliament, when writing their own names, especially on stationery and Franking, franks, Representatives have upon occasion followed their names with "M.C." (Member of Congress). The names of senators similarly are addressed in writing as "The Honorable" and orally as "Senator". Where Representatives may have used "M.C.", Senators have used "U.S.S." (United States Senator). However, neither form is currently used by members in Washington, DC. On the actual floor of the houses during debate, members commonly refer to one another as the gentleman or gentlewoman from their appropriate state (e.g., "As my friend, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio, just said..." or "I yield three minutes to the gentleman from New York, Mr. Smith"). In debate, senators sometimes refer to colleagues as the junior or senior senator from a state, (e.g., "I disagree with my dear friend, the junior senator from Ohio..."). Senators also commonly use this form of address. *While the term "Esquire", abbreviated "Esq." after the name (John Jones, Esq.), has no legal meaning in the U.S. and may be used by anyone (or at least, customarily, by any male), it is correctly used when addressing lawyers in correspondence as an indication of their profession. At least one American jurisdiction, the District of Columbia, limits the use of "Esquire" (and similar terms) to licensed attorneys. Although some authorities previously urged that use of "Esq." should be restricted to male lawyers, today the term is used for both male and female attorneys. The academic post-nominal ''J.D.'' (Juris Doctor) may be used by graduates of law schools who are not members of the bar of any state or who are working outside the legal profession. *In academic fields, it is customary in the U.S. to refer to those holding any level of professorship (professor, assistant professor, associate professor, adjunct professor, etc.) as "Professor" – as in "Professor Jones" – orally or in writing. In writing, "professor" is often abbreviated as "Prof.", as in "Prof. Jones". Those holding academic doctorates are frequently referred to as "Dr. Jones." *Military personnel of any functionality (doctors, lawyers, engineers, cooks, fighter pilots, motor pool drivers, commanding officers, security guards ... officers and enlisted ... leaders and followers) are always addressed by rank + name; with the exception of chaplains, who are addressed as "Chaplain" and are addressed in writing with their rank in parentheses, e.g.: "Chaplain (Major) Jones". An exception to this is in the Navy, where in writing the rank is either not used, or is used before the person's name with the corps designator "CHC" indicating the officer is a chaplain put behind their name. e.g.: "LT George Burdell, CHC, USN". In the United States Navy, there is an internal practice aboard ships that junior officers who are not in command may be addressed by their rank or as "Mister/Miss X" as in "Lieutenant Junior Grade Smith" or "Miss Smith". This practice is also followed within the United States Coast Guard, both aboard ship and ashore. Junior officers in both services are understood to be those of lieutenant commander and below. Senior officers (commander and above) are addressed by their rank as in "Commander Smith" or "Admiral Smith". While officially this manner of address is supposed to be from a senior rank to a junior rank, i.e. captain to lieutenant, in practice it is not unknown for enlisted personnel to refer to junior officers as Mister as well. While commonly referred to by their rank, i.e. Seaman/Airman/Fireman/Petty Officer X or (Senior/Master) Chief X, on formal occasions, e.g. weddings, an enlisted man's full title is sometimes used, starting with their rating, then their rank, and their name, e.g. Electronics Technician Second Class X or Chief Gunner's Mate Y. When written, e.g. in formal invitations, the enlisted man's name is written as "''Serviceman's name'', USN/USMC/USA/USAF/USCG", without one's rank preceding their name, unlike commissioned officers. *Any officer in command of a ship is referred to as Captain for the period of their command or in reference to the ship, regardless of what rank they normally hold. *Retired military personnel may continue to be addressed by their rank at the time of their retirement. Those who held 'brevet' ranks higher than their permanent rank (permanent Army officers who held temporary rank in volunteer regiments during the American Civil War) also held this honor; though all such individuals have now perished, this usage is often seen in historical or fictional sources placed in the 1865–1900 period. * ''Hamilton v. Alabama (1964), Hamilton v. Alabama'', 376 U.S. 650 (1964), is a Supreme Court of the United States, United States Supreme Court case in which the court held that an African Americans, African-American woman, Mary Hamilton (activist), Mary Hamilton, was entitled to the same courteous forms of address customarily reserved solely for whites in the Southern United States, and that calling a black person by their first name in a formal context was "a form of racial discrimination".


Former styles

All former monarchies had styles, some, as in the Bourbon monarchy of Kingdom of France, France, extremely complicated depending on the status of the office or office-holder. Otto von Habsburg, who was Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary (1916–1918), had the style 'His Imperial and Royal Highness'. He was last addressed as such by church figures during the funeral of his late mother, Empress-Queen Zita of Bourbon-Parma, Zita of Austria-Hungary in 1989, although the use of these styles has been prohibited in Austria since 1920. For the styles of address to government officials in Russian Empire, Imperial Russia, see Table of Ranks. The names of some offices are also
title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
s, which are retained by the office holder for life. For example, holders of titles of which there are many at the same time, such as ambassadors, senators, judges, and military officers who retire retain use of their hierarchical honorific for life. Holders of titles of which there is only one office holder at a time such as president, chief justice or speaker revert to their previous honorific when they leave office out of deference to the current office holder.


Other parallel symbols

Styles were often among the range of symbols that surrounded figures of high office. Everything from the manner of address to the behaviour of a person on meeting that personage was surrounded by traditional symbols. Monarchs were to be bowed to by men and curtsied to by women. Senior clergy, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, were to have their rings (the symbol of their authority) kissed by lay persons while they were on bended knee, while cardinals in an act of homage at the papal coronation were meant to kiss the feet of the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope. Many of these traditions have lapsed or been partially abandoned. At his inauguration as pope in 1978 (itself the abandonment of the traditional millennium-old papal coronation), Pope John Paul II himself kissed cardinals on the cheeks, rather than follow the traditional method of homage of having his feet kissed. Similarly, styles, though still used, are used less often. The former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, was usually referred to as ''President Mary McAleese'', not ''President McAleese'', as had been the form used for the first six presidents, from President Hyde to President Hillery. Tony Blair asked initially to be called ''Tony''. First names, or even nicknames, are often widely used among politicians in the US, even in formal situations (as an extreme example, President Jimmy Carter, James Earl "Jimmy" Carter chose to take the Oath of Office using his nickname). One notable exception involves judges: a judge of any court is almost invariably addressed as "Your Honor" while presiding over his or her court, and often at other times as well. This style has been removed in the Republic of Ireland, where judges are addressed only as "Judge". However, styles are still widely used in formal documents and correspondence between heads of state, such as in a letter of credence accrediting an ambassador from one head of state to another.


Self-styled

The term ''self-styled'', or ''soi-disant'', roughly means awarding a ''style'' to oneself, often without adequate justification or authority, but the expression often refers to descriptions or
title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
s (such as "aunt", "expert", "Doctor", or "King"), rather than true ''styles'' in the sense of this article.


See also

*Forms of address in the United Kingdom *Forms of address in Spain *Forms of address in the Russian Empire *List of titles *Suffix (name) *Title *T–V distinction


Notes

1 Though the Republic of Ireland does not possess a Privy Council, the style is still used. The Lord Mayor of Dublin is still styled the Right Honourable, as previous lord mayors of Dublin were ''ex-officio'' members of the former Irish Privy Council until its abolition in 1922.


References


External links


Table of titles to be used in Canada
Department of Canadian Heritage
Styles of Address
Department of Canadian Heritage

from Infoplease

{{DEFAULTSORT:Style (Manner Of Address) Styles (forms of address),