Forms of Address among Free Persons

As shown below in quotes, Men addressed Men by caste or position (Warrior, Officer, Praetor, Guardsman), by name, or as "Sir", or sometimes "Master". They also addressed other Men as "Stranger", "Fellow", "Man of (City)" or "Citizen".
Men addressed Women as "Lady", or with her name such as "Lady Florence".
Women addressed Men by caste or position, by name, or as "Sir".
Women addressed other Women by name or position ("Keeper").

Often addressed by their caste or position, whether the man was well-known to them or not.

"Thank you, Warrior," I said, and turned back to the city.
Outlaw

"Proprietor!" I cried, pounding on the table with my spear.
"Yes, Warrior," cried he.
Outlaw

"Welcome, Killer," said the man, addressing the Assassin by what, for that caste, is a title of respect.
Assassin

"And that Ahn," I said, "is to be made up in extra work in the evening."
"Yes Captain," said the kitchen master.
Raiders

I strode to the stern castle of the Dorna.
"Greetings, Oar-master," said I.
"Greetings, Captain," said be.
Raiders

Samos looked to Bosk. "Captain," said he, "begin work."
"I shall, Captain," smiled Bosk.
Slave Girl

"My thanks, Officer," said I 'The lines are long," he said. "I wish you well," I said.
Beasts

'Leave us, Warrior,' I said.
Kazrak laughed again, winked at me, and backed with mock ceremony from the tent.
Tarnsman

'Oh, Ubar of Merchants,' I said, 'I would not willingly see your profits jeopardised.'
Tarnsman

'Do you know, Tarnsman,' he asked, 'that there is no justice without the sword?' He smiled down on me grimly.
Tarnsman

All eyes turned to face a paunchy man, in a robe of blue and yellow silk. "I am Portus," he said. "Do not interfere, Assassin."
Assassin

“Where did you find such a girl?” I asked.
“Near the Spice Pier;” he said.
“My thanks, Guardsman,” said I.
Explorers

“The slave is awarded to Ulafi of Schendi,” ruled the praetor.
There were cheers from the men present, and Gorean applause, the striking of the left shoulder with the right hand.
“My thanks, Praetor,” said Ulafi, receiving back the slave papers from the magistrate.
Explorers

When not addressing with positions, titles or caste, men used the names if they knew them.

'Great Mintar,' I spoke up, 'forgive this she-tharlarion. Her father was a goat keeper by the swamp forests of Ar, and I did steal her, but she begged me to take her from the village.
Tarnsman

"Come, Thorn of Tharna," I said, beckoning to him. "Let us try our skill."
Outlaw

"I am not pleased with her," he said to the proprietor.
"I am sorry, Noble Surbus," said the man, "I shall have her beaten."
Raiders

The Physician looked up from the paper. "Greetings, Ho-Tu," said he.
"Greetings, Flaminius," said Ho-Tu.
Assassin

“Greetings, Captain,” said Thurnock, from the boat.
“Greetings, Thurnock,” I said.
Explorers

"Greetings, Kenneth," said Borto, the driver of the low bedded tharlarion wagon. "I see you have the slave."
"Greetings, Borto," said Kenneth. "Yes, and I think she is now well ready for her sale."
Fighting Slave

Men might address other men as "Sir"

“Come Masters, Kind Sirs,” called the auctioneer. “Can you not see the promise of this slender, blond, barbarian beauty?”
Explorers

The proprietor approached our table and I stood up, holding my goblet of paga to welcome him. "You fought well, Jason," he said. "Thank you," I said. I looked down. Kneeling at my right knee, her cheek against my knee, was the red-haired dancing girl. She looked up at me timidly, her eyes shining. As she knelt the slender chains at her collar depended to the polished floor. "You fought well, Jason," said the proprietor. "She is yours for the night. Use her for your pleasure." "My thanks, Kind Sir, " I said.
Rogue

"Have you no work to do this day," asked the man in whose fee I was that afternoon. "That I have, Sir," I grinned and turned again to my labors.
Rogue

Seeing the officer whose sword I had, I laughed and flung the weapon into the deck at his feet. "Sir," I said, "your sword."
Raiders

"See!" said the second officer. "Look!"
"You are to be at your station!" shouted the captain.
"I submit, Sir," said the officer, "you should turn about."
Slave Girl

"Where are the platforms of Tenalion of Ar?" I asked a man. They had been his property.
The fellow pointed to the two hundreds.
"My thanks, Sir," said I. Tenalion is a well-known slaver.
Beasts

Men also addressed other Men as "Master"

"Passage, Master?" inquired a fellow. "I would deal with others," I told him.
"We are cheap," he called. "Cheap!" "Thank you," I said to him, and continued on. I had discovered in various towns that I was likely to get the best fares at the quays themselves.
Rogue

"Unless, said Kliomenes, rising to his feet, "you care to meet me with steel. My hand, wet with sweat, fingers moving against one another, opened and shut at the hilt of the sword I wore. Kliomenes looked at me grinning.
"Please Master," said Hibron, the proprietor of that low tavern, "I do not wish trouble. Please, Master!"
Rogue

"You are a beggar?" asked Kuurus.
"Yes, Master," said Hup.
"Was the begging good today?" asked Kuurus.
Hup looked at him in fear. "Yes, Master," he said, "yes!"
Assassin

"Only a quarter tarsk!" called the man. I brushed her aside. At the other end of the control stick there is a leather loop. This goes about the right wrist of the master. Behind me I heard the girl cry out in pain and struggle to her feet. "You worthless slut," said the man to her. And then he again was calling out, "Rent her! Rent her, kind masters!"
Beasts

“You are one of the most honest slavers I have ever met,” I said.
“My thanks, Master,” breathed he, bowing low.
“I wish you well,” said I.
“I wish you well,” said he.
Explorers

"Don't touch me," she cried, drawing back.
"A barbarian," said the tam keeper.
"Yes," said the slaver's man.
"And the others?" asked the tarn keeper.
"They are all barbarian, Master," said the slaver's man.
Beasts

"A tarsk bit to enter, Master," said a slaver's man at the entrance to the pavilion.
I handed him a tarsk bit from my pouch, and pushed through the canvas.
Beasts

“Yes, Master?” asked the auctioneer. “‘Is there another bid?”
“Yes,” said the man.
“Yes, Master?” asked the auctioneer.
“I take him to be a merchant captain,” said a man near me.
I nodded. The conjecture was intelligent. The fellow wore the white and gold of the merchant, beneath a seaman’s aba. It was not likely that a merchant would wear that garment unless he were entitled to it. Goreans are particular about such matters. Doubtless he owned and’ captained his own vessel.
“What is his name and ship?” I asked.
“I do not know,” said the man.
“What is Master’s bid?” asked the auctioneer.
There was silence.
We looked at the man. The girl, too, in the sales collar and position chain, her hands behind her neck, looked at him.
“What is Master’s bid?” asked the auctioneer.
“One tarsk,” said the man.
We looked at one another. There was some uneasy laughter. Then there was again silence.
“Forgive me, Master,” then said the auctioneer. “Master came late to the bidding. We have already on the floor a bid of forty tarsks.”
Explorers

Other forms of address

"Stranger"

"I have sold her for five," said the proprietor, "to this noble gentleman. Do not interfere, Stranger, this man is Surbus."
Raiders

"Stranger," said a voice.
I turned.
Outlaw

"Citizen"

“We shall send two guardsmen to investigate,” said the praetor. “Thank you, Citizen, for this information.”
Explorers

"Man of Tharna"

"Man of Tharna," I asked, "where can I find an inn?"
"There are no inns in Tharna," said the man, looking at me closely.
Outlaw

"Fellow"

"Do you, Fellow," said he, addressing me, "desire a champion?" The man was armed. Over his left shoulder there hung a leather sheath.
Rogue

Addressing Women as "Lady"

"Will the Lady Tina of Lydius deign to face me?" asked the judge, using the courteous tones and terminology with which Gorean free women, often inordinately honored, are addressed.
Hunters

"Finish with her," said the Lady Elicia, rising, angrily, from the curule chair. "And when you are done with her see that she is cleaned and groomed, and presented to me in a fresh tunic."
"Yes, Lady," said Tellius.
Slave Girl

"He is a brigand from the forests north of Laura," said the lady.
"No, Lady," said I, deferentially. I inclined my head to her, for she was free, and obviously of high station.
"You have been greeted," she said, icily. "Now stand aside."
I thought her tone surly.
I did not move.
"This is the retinue of Constance, Lady in Kassau, enroute to Lydius, returning from the sights of Ar."
"She must be rich," I said. Surely this was true, for her to travel as she did, not in public caravan.
"Stand aside," said the captain. "A moment, Captain," said I. I looked to the free woman. "I am a man, dear Lady," said I, "and am of the warriors. I have journeyed far."
"I do not understand," she said.
"I assume," said I, "that you will linger briefly here, to fill the flasks of water, if not camp for the night."
"What does he want?" she asked.
"He is of the warriors, milady," said the captain.
"Forgive me, Lady," said I, "but my need is much upon me."
Beasts

He regarded her. She shuddered. Her Home Stone was not that of Lara, times were troubled,, and Strobius was master in his own inn. Too, she had for a time owed him money. Would he like to see her stripped and collared?
"Please kind sir," she said. Gorean men are sometimes slow to release their grip on the bodies of females. They enjoy holding them. They are men.
"Of course, Lady," said Strobius smiling, again bowing. He then signaled the fellow to release the woman, which he did. She then drew back angrily and smoothed down her garments. Then straightening herself, she cam regally to where I stood.
"My thanks, Sir," she said looking up at me.
Rogue

Addressing Women by name

"My thanks, Lady Teela," said Turbus Veminius, proprietor of the shop, accepting coins and handing to a robed woman a tiny vial of perfume.
Fighting Slave

"He is splendid, Lady Florence," said Kenneth, warmly. "He is a true champion. He has beaten already the champions of five stables, those of Kliomenes, Policrates, Gordon, Dorto and Miles."
"I abhor violence," she said, shuddering, the quirt in her hand.
"Of course, Lady Florence," said Kenneth. "Forgive me. They are, of course, only slaves who are set at one another"
Fighting Slave

Addressing Men by Caste or Position

She had not known of my presence, and yet she did not seem much surprised. This was a moment she had apparently expected for many days, and now it had come. Her head lifted and her eyes, fine, grey eyes, dulled with sorrow and perhaps hunger, regarded me. She seemed to take no great interest in me, or her fate. I gathered that I might have been anyone.
We faced one another without speaking for a moment.
"Tal, Warrior," she said, softly, her voice emotionless.
Outlaw

"You have disarmed me, Warrior," she said. "Will you now, please, hand me my robe."
He threw the robe to the side of the room. She looked at it, crumpled at the side of the room.
"Please," she said. "I am rich. I can give you much gold."
Slave Girl

“If you should attempt to do that again, my dear,” said the praetor, “your ankles will be tied, and you will hear the rest of the proceedings while lying on your belly before the tribunal.”
“Yes, Officer,” she said.
Explorers

Addressing Men by name

She looked into my eyes for a long time. And then, as Thorn and the warrior picked up the litter with their wounded companion and began to depart, she said to me, "Goodbye, Tarl of Ko-ro-ba."
"I wish you well, Vera of the Towers of the Morning," I said.
Outlaw

Addressing Men as "Sir"

He regarded her. She shuddered. Her Home Stone was not that of Lara, times were troubled,, and Strobius was master in his own inn. Too, she had for a time owed him money. Would he like to see her stripped and collared?
"Please kind Sir," she said. Gorean men are sometimes slow to release their grip on the bodies of females. They enjoy holding them. They are men.
"Of course, Lady," said Strobius smiling, again bowing. He then signaled the fellow to release the woman, which he did. She then drew back angrily and smoothed down her garments. Then straightening herself, she cam regally to where I stood.
"My thanks, Sir," she said looking up at me.
Rogue

Addressing Women by a Position

"Keeper," said the woman who had been examining me.
"I am here," said the Lady Gina.
Fighting Slave

Addressing Women by name

"How pretty he is at your stirrup, Lady Florence," said the veiled woman, reclining in the palanquin, its draft slaves now halted.
"A lengthening of his hair, a white ribbon binding it back, a silken tunic make quite a difference, Lady Melpomene," responded the Lady Florence.
Fighting Slave