desi

1 of 2

noun

de·​si ˈdā-sē How to pronounce desi (audio) ˈde-sē How to pronounce desi (audio)
variants or Desi
plural desis or Desis
see usage paragraph below
: a person of South Asian descent
especially : a person of South Asian ancestry who lives outside of South Asia
In the early 1990s, when I was 5 or so, I asked my parents if we were the only Indians in Atlanta. We knew other desis, but they were peripheral figures … —Sanjena Sathian
Our folk religions and cultures, which millions of desis still practise, have never been defined by such quintessentially modern and narrow political oppositions as "Hindu" versus "Muslim." —Pankaj Mishra and Ali Sethi
However one defines them, Desis are emerging as a decisive voting bloc. —Jeet Heer
To gain a wider audience, films about Indian expatriates at times desperately resort to stereotyping desis … —Aniruddh Chawda
Usage of Desi

Use of desi (or Desi) as a neutral or positive self-descriptor is common among people who identify as part of the South Asian diaspora, especially second-generation immigrants in the United States. The term is not universally accepted, however, as some believe it erases important distinctions between the many diverse cultures that make up such a large community. While not regarded as offensive, both adjective and noun forms of desi/Desi are rarely used by those who do not identify as South Asian, and it is recommended that non-South Asian people use terms referring to specific cultural communities, regions, or nations, instead.

desi

2 of 2

adjective

variants or Desi
1
: being or descended from someone of South Asian ancestry who lives outside of South Asia
I picked up yoga as a teenager, one of the only desi kids in a white school in Colorado. It was a way to take some deep breaths, tap into my lineage …—Priya Subberwal
2
: of or relating to the South Asian diaspora
As the sole parent of Indian background, I am the person who should be teaching them to speak Hindi, should be cooking desi food at home and keeping that part of their culture active.—Ameena Meer
Instead of claiming to offer "authentic" Indian eats (a phrase that is often controversial amongst the local population), the … spot offers modern dishes inspired by traditional Desi flavors.—Kara Vandooijeweert
My brown skin is no longer a source of insecurity for me. I've noticed appreciation for Desi culture has grown tremendously, and people are far more willing to speak out against existing racism and stereotypes.—Niveditha Bala

see usage paragraph at desi

Examples of desi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Spice and Curry — a longtime favorite for all kinds of people The East Meadow biryani trail ends at Spice & Curry Kabab & Grill, the oldest desi restaurant in the area. —Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, NPR, 8 June 2024 Sunday, 9/29 Nibble Kitchen's Back to School Cooking Class Series in Somerville teaches you how to make tasty desi snacks with Desi Yums, 5-7:30pm. Price: $60+. —Steph Solis, Axios, 23 Sep. 2024 Curly hair is often criticised in the desi community but don’t let thst criticism affect you. —Varsha Patel, refinery29.com, 16 July 2024 Sahar's Kitchen and Chai — Karachi style In East Meadow, the desi restaurants have both Hindu and Muslim customers. —Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, NPR, 8 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Hindi desī "person native to a region, inhabitant," noun derivative of desī "belonging to a region or locale, native, local, rural" — more at desi entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Hindi desī "belonging to a region or locale, native, local, rural," going back to Sanskrit deśī́ya-, déśya- "peculiar to a country, indigenous," adjective derivative of deśáḥ "place, region," probably originally "direction," noun derivative of diśáti "(s/he) shows, exhibits" — more at diction

First Known Use

Noun

1988, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1991, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desi was in 1988

Dictionary Entries Near desi

deshabille

desi

desiatin

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Desi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desi. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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