{"id":4399,"date":"2022-06-09T17:53:18","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T17:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4399"},"modified":"2022-06-13T17:14:17","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T17:14:17","slug":"desi-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/desi-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Desi \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did someone just describe an Indian person as a \u201cDesi<\/em>?\u201d What does that mean? Is it a racist term, or can you use it in public? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cDes<\/em>i\u201d refers to culture, people, and items originating from the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora. If you\u2019re using the word \u201cDesi<\/em>,\u201d you could describe a person from India, Pakistani, or Bangladesh.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The word doesn\u2019t refer to people with a darker or lighter skin tone, and it describes all demographics in these countries. The expression can refer to men or women, and it\u2019s a genderless term used in Desi and western communities.<\/p>\n

You can use the term Desi<\/em> to describe food from the regions of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. If you\u2019re going out to an Indian restaurant for a vegetarian curry, you could say that it\u2019s a Desi<\/em>-run restaurant if it has Indian owners. Des<\/em>i is not a racist term, and it\u2019s not considered hate speech by the Desi<\/em> community.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cDesi women are the most attractive ladies in the world. They have the most amazing features and skin tone. They are so beautiful I wish my wife was Indian.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDesi culture has a rich heritage in the east. They started the practice of yoga and invented so many important things throughout history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDesi culture is amazing. The food alone is absolutely mind-blowing, and I could go on for days about the clothing and the music. It\u2019s just a fascinating culture and the cradle of humankind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be a Desi, you need to understand your culture and heritage. You must embrace everything about your people and their history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Desi people. They are so open and friendly, and they are always willing to help you out when you need a hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have plenty of Desi people as friends. I live in an Indian neighborhood, and they are great people. It\u2019s a safe area, and the community respects each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever disrespect a Desi person. They are vindictive, and they will hold a grudge against you for the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \"Desi\" originates from the Sanskrit word, \"Desh.\" Desi compares to the Hindustani word \"vil\u0101yati\" (with the English version being \"Blighty\"). This term originally referred to people and culture from the Central Asian region and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, the word changed to refer to Britain or Western ideologies or culture. People from India and the subcontinent began referring to themselves as \"Desi.\" After the approval of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the US increased immigration from the Indian subcontinent.<\/p>\n

As more students arrived in the US and UK from the subcontinent, local communities would begin to refer to them as \"Desi\" people. The term also refers to Indian expatriates living outside of the subcontinent in western countries.<\/p>\n