Etymology

From Sanskrit स्वामी ‎(svāmī, “boss; owner; proprietor”), probably via Old Khmer svāmī ‎(“lord, master, mistress; proprietor; husband, spouse, wife, consort”). Compare Pre-Angkorian Old Khmer svāmi; Angkorian Old Khmer svāmi, svāmiy; Modern Khmer ស្វាមី ‎(svami).

Pronunciation