Slavic Honorifics

Speakers of Slavic languages and Lithuanians (Baltic languages) use two main sets of honorifics. West Slavs and Ukrainians use the title ''Pan'', South Slavs and Russians use ''Gospodin'', while Belarusians use either ''Pan'' or ''Spadar'', and Lithuanians use either ''Ponas'' or ''Gaspadorius''.

''(G)ospodin''

An interesting etymological conundrum, an origin of the large family of honorific based on ''gospodь'', is reflected by number of theories surrounding it. Most recent and interesting one is proposed by linguist Adrian Poruciuc, who asserts an early borrowing from the Old Germanic compound ''gōd-spōd'' (good fortune), in opposition to proposed unconvincing explanation based on Proto-Slavic compound ''gostьpodь'', which is, also, still visible in English godspeed.

Usage of ''Pan''

''Pan'' is used to varying degrees in a number of Slavic languages – the West Slavic languages Polish, Czech, Slovak, East Slavic languages Ukrainian and Belarusian, and the Balto-Slavic language Lithuanian (''Ponas''). Historically, ''Pan'' was equivalent to "Lord" or "Master" (ruler, suzerain).

''Pan'' and its variations are most common in Poland. The male form is '','' the feminine form is ''.'' is sometimes used to refer to young women (comparable to ''Fräulein'' in German and Mademoiselle in French) but is becoming less common. The collective is ''Państwo'' for a group of men and women, ''Panowie'' for a group of men, and ''Panie'' for a group of women''.'' The use of Pan and its variations differs significantly from English honorifics. It is used as an honorific (roughly equivalent to Mr) before the name (first name and surname, only surname, or only first name) and as a form of address without the name (roughly equivalent to "Sir").

Use of ''Pan'' with the first name in Poland marks a combination of familiarity and respect. Unlike "Sir", Pan is used both ways between persons of both equal and unequal rank (a waiter will address a guest as ''Pan'', and the customer reciprocates, much like using ''Monsieur'' in French). Using ''Pan'' with only the first name is regarded as a disrespectful way of addressing people, even somewhat condescending, when it is used to a superior. Using Pan with only the surname, however, is normally respectful if talking about somebody. Many people in Poland find it impolite to address somebody using ''Pan'' with the surname. ''Pan'' is never used about oneself (unlike "Mr").

"Pan" is also used as a kind of personal pronoun in a similar way as ''Usted'' in Spanish or ''Lei'' in Italian (unlike French 'Monsieur' or German 'Herr', which require the use of 'vous' and 'Sie' respectively).

Other titles

''Spadar'' appears in Belarusian. It is a simplified version of ''Haspadar'', which is related to ''Gospodin'' or the Slovene ''Gospodar''. ''Gaspadorius'' and ''gaspadinė'' for a woman appears in Lithuanian language. It is an archaic word and it is not used today in the general Lithuanian language, however it is not extinct and sometimes used in a countryside. It originated from Proto-Slavic, ultimately from *''gospodь'', compare Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian ''gospodar'' (''господар'') and Ukrainian ''hospodar'', which means householder, master of the house or head of a household. Additionally, usage of different forms, ''gospodin'' and ''gospodar'', could be related to context, where ''gospodin'' translates as Sir and ''gospodar'' as Lord.

''Vladyka'' (literally, ruler/master), is used when referring to a bishop or patriarch in Eastern Orthodox churches.

''Sudar'', appearing without a personal name, was formerly used in Russian. It may be connected to the Russian title of a head of state, ''Gosudar''. Its Ukrainian counterpart was ''(Pane) Dobrodiyu'' or ''(Pani) Dobrodiyko'' ( pl. Dobrodiyi). Those titles became obsolete and are now found only in novels. Appeal of ''Shanovni Dobrodiyi'' ("Dear Goodwill") is still used solemnly to many people.

In Ukrainian, ''Panych'' was once used to refer to noble youngsters. It is spelled ''Panicz'' in Polish.

Under communism

The equivalent of ''Comrade'' replaced most titles in the Communist-era Eastern bloc, including non-aligned Yugoslavia, except Poland.

In Poland, ''Obywatel'' ("citizen") replaced ''Pan'', which was restored after the fall of Communism. The word "citizen" was chosen for ideological reasons, as ''pan'' (sir) was historically a title of a nobleman. The equivalent of Russian comrade – ''towarzysz'' – was a title reserved only for communist party members, while in former Yugoslavia equivalent of comrade is masculine ''drug'' and feminine ''drugarica'' and was widely used for all persons.

See also

* Mr.
* Lord
* Polish name

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slavic Honorifics
Honorifics by language