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Glite Dictionary
bey

bey

8 9.9
A title that people in Turkey, Egypt, or the old Ottoman Empire give to important men
  • noun
  • /beɪ/
translation icon : bey
  • During the ceremony, the bey received tributes from the townspeople for his service.

Examples

  • You are the friend of Kerim Bey?

    From Russia with Love (1963)

  • Excellency, I have played before the King of Spain, the Khedive of Egypt, the Bey of Tunis.

    The Pirate (1948)

  • Let's go to our Bey now... ...and tell him what you know.

    Heirloom (2019)

  • I hope your Bey agrees to surrender.

    Heirloom (2019)

  • Kerim Bey sent a car for you, sir.

    From Russia with Love (1963)

  • Kerim Bey was a very important man.

    From Russia with Love (1963)

  • Subhi Bey would lose his temper and slam the door.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • One of Hamza Bey's men.

    Dracula Untold (2014)

  • Subhi Bey and his wife Faiza come and visit on Jewish holidays, bearing gifts.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Today, the 20-floor concrete shell blocks the ocean views of the adjacent Ottoman-era Bey's Palace.

    Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

Aga
vsbey
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A respected person who leads others, often in Turkish or Ottoman history

is used for officials or dignitaries more broadly rather than only leaders

Surface Forms

bey singular
beys plural

Etymology

Bey comes from an old Turkic word beg, which means 'lord' or 'chief' and was used as a title for local leaders in the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, and Egypt. So calling someone bey is like calling them 'sir' or 'lord', and it shows respect and rank.