# Desi

/ˈdɛzi/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/desi
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

describing people, food, or culture from South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It is a friendly way to talk about things that feel like home for people from that region.

For teachers: relating to the people, culture, and products of the South Asian subcontinent and its diaspora. Often used as a self-referential term of cultural identity; informal in register.

## Examples

- We went to a great desi restaurant for dinner.
- The festival featured a mix of traditional desi music and modern pop from the local community.
- The film explores the unique challenges faced by the second-generation desi community as they navigate the intersection of their heritage and their current lives.

## Usage notes

- Often used attributively before a noun; can also function as a noun to refer to a person of South Asian descent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.