Titles and social classes in the Ottoman Empire.
sultan | title applied to the sultan, his wives or his children | |
padişah | sovereign, monarch, sultan | |
han | a title applied to the Ottoman sultans and certain other rulers | |
sadrazam | prime minister (grand vizier) | |
vezir | minister, vizier | |
paşa | Lord, governor of a large area | |
vali | Governor. The office entitled the holder to the personal title of Pasha | |
has odabaşı | responsible for sultan's room | |
şehzade | prince, sultan's son | |
harem | harem | |
valide sultan | the mother of a ruling Sultan | |
haseki | favorite odalisque at the harem | |
haseki sultan | mother of a Prince | |
haseki kadın | the mother of a Sultan's daughter | |
kalfa | woman supervisor of the harem | |
hatun | wife, woman, lady | |
cariye | female slave, odalisque | |
gedikli cariye | maid-in-waiting for the sultan | |
kızlar ağası | the black eunuch in charge of the palace of the harem | |
kanuni | legislator | |
kadı | qadi, judge | |
serasker | commander of the army | |
kapudan paşa | admiral | |
binbaşı | chief of a thousand | |
ağa | officer | |
yeniçeri | the Janissary corps, young soldiers | |
kaymakam | official charged with governing a provincial district | |
bey | a title junior to Pasha and conferred on civil and military officers on a personal basis | |
çelebi | gentleman, sir | |
hoca | teacher | |
lala | high-ranking teacher/servant who looked after a son of the sultan | |
derviş | poor, beggar | |
gavur | non muslim person | |
dönme | someone who converted his faith to Islam | |
bostancı | gardener of the palace | |
köle | slave |
Some characteristic phrases from "Suleiman the Magnificent - Muhteşem Yüzyıl" TV series:
- Hünkarım! - Your Majesty! (addressing the sultan)
- Aslanım! - My lion! (A mother to her son)
- Destur. Sultan Süleyman Han hazretleri! - Move aside. His excellency Sultan Suleiman Han!