{{Short description|Form of address to reigning kings}} {{other uses}} '''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.{{cn|date=June 2023}} In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
The words "sire" and "sir", as well as the French "(mon)sieur", the Spanish "señor", and the Portuguese "senhor", share a common etymological origin, all ultimately being related to the Latin ''senior''. The female equivalent form of address is dame or dam.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jane Mills|title=Womanwords: a dictionary of words about women|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A74UAQAAIAAJ|date=April 1992|publisher=Free Press|isbn=978-0-02-921495-4|page=62}}</ref>
== See also ==
* Forms of address in the United Kingdom * King * Nobility
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Social titles}}
Category:Men's social titles Category:Nobility Category:Royal styles