# babu

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɑːbuː/ · frequency rank #29,549

## Definitions
1. A Hindu title of respect, equivalent to Mr., usually appended to the surname of a Hindu man.
2. an archetypical Indian bureaucrat, perceived as being corrupt, lazy or arrogant.
3. Originally, a Hindu gentleman employed to work as a clerk for the colonial administration; now, a clerk or low-ranking government official.

## Etymology
From Hindi बाबू (bābū).

## Easily confused with
- **BB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bb)
- **bad** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bad)
- **bar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bar)
- **bag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bag)
- **bay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bay)
- **bob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bob)
- **BBC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bbc)
- **ban** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-ban)
- **bat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bat)
- **BBQ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bbq)
- **bam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bam)
- **BAE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bae)
- **Bas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bas)
- **bai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bai)
- **BBW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bbw)
- **BYU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-byu)
- **bal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bal)
- **bao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bao)
- **bah** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bah)
- **bac** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/babu-vs-bac)

## Common misspellings (5)
`abbu`, `babbu`, `baub`, `bbabu`, `bbau`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/babu