People who read historical novels or cartoons like 'The wizard of Id' would notice that royalty and 'noble born' people are addressed as 'Sire', while ordinary folk are politely referred to as 'Sir'.
'Sir' used to be a title for Knights ( Sir Lancelot, et al), but now is a general honorific - a polite word to address people - of your own social level (or below - depending on your socialist tendencies). (Better known as 'Saar', down south)
However, the word 'Sire' technically means 'Father', and is even now the correct way to refer to bloodlines of quadripeds like dogs or horses. ('Dam' is mother, and 'Sire' is father). Humans can also refer to their forebears as 'My Sire' or 'My grandsire'; though such an usage would be archaic now, and used largely in poetry or irony.
I was wondering how to explain the difference in the Indian context, and I think I have the perfect analogy.
The word 'Sir' is a general honorific, and the closest Indian translation would be 'sahab' or 'Bhai-sahab'.
However the word 'Sire' refers to a much more important person, with connotations of parenthood, which could refer to a big IAS babu or Minister. Therefore the perfect Indian translation would be 'Mai-baap' where you equate him to both parents, instead of one!
Sir Vs. Sire = Bhaisaa'b Vs Mai-baap
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