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Glite Dictionary
🧑🏽 A South Asian person 🌾 Local, not foreign 🎶 South Asian
desi

desi

8.4
Relating to the people and culture of India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh
  • adjective
  • /ˈdeɪsi/
  • Indian
translation icon : del subcontinente indio
  • That is the "American Dream" after all, as well as the dream of so many desi immigrants to the West.

Examples

  • Oh my God, desi made House of lashes iconic happen.

  • My God, Desi girl, look at us.

  • Like Desi is what we would call like the Indian looking people.

  • Like, OK, so I think for me, the most surprise, the most surprising part would be the whole Desi Side Story.

  • The fact remains, though, that desi communities in North America are at far more risk from racist lone gunmen than organized terrorist cells.

    Blog text (6)

  • Many desi communities celebrate traditional festivals with colorful decorations and delicious food.

  • The film portrays the challenges faced by desi immigrants as they adapt to life in a new country.

  • Her desi heritage influences her cooking, with recipes passed down from generations.

Synonyms

Indic
vsdesi
7.5

Relating to the languages, people, and culture of India and nearby countries

is broader covering people culture and things across India Pakistan and Bangladesh

Antonyms

foreign
481 3.4

From another country or language and not familiar here

Surface Forms

desi positive

Etymology

Desi comes from the Hindi and Urdu word desh and the old Sanskrit deśa, which mean 'country'. That's why desi is used for music, food, and other culture from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh — things that feel local or from home.