desi
From the subcontinent
Desi refers to people, culture, or things from the Indian subcontinent—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and neighboring countries.
The term encompasses shared cultural elements across national boundaries: desi food, desi music, the desi community.
It's used warmly among South Asians themselves and has spread into broader English: We found a great desi grocery store.
The word comes from Hindi meaning "of the homeland." (Capitalized Desi is a given name.)
Wrapped South Asian dress
Person from either continent
- PakistaniFrom Lahore's homeland
- BangladeshiOf a South Asian nation
- NepaliHimalayan country's language
- diasporaScattered population sharing origins
subcontinent · heritage · roots · ancestry · brown · second-generation · motherland · homeland
sari
Wrapped South Asian dress
Indian
Person from either continent
- PakistaniFrom Lahore's homeland
- BangladeshiOf a South Asian nation
- NepaliHimalayan country's language
diaspora · subcontinent · heritage · roots · ancestry · brown · second-generation · motherland · homeland · immigrant
biryani
Spiced layered rice dish
tandoori · roti · naan · samosa · chutney · paneer · dosa · idli · korma · vindaloo
mehndi
Ornamental paste skin designs
tradition · ritual · mythology · folklore · bhangra · tabla · sitar · cricket · namaste · izzat
- Desi Wordsnamaste, salaam, bhai, beta, aunty
- IndiansIndian, Indian American, first generation, second generation, immigrant
- South Asian AmericansIndian Americans, first generation, second generation, Kamala Harris, Mindy Kaling
- Indian Performancekathak, mudras, classical drama, folk theater, court dance
- PakistanIslamabad, Karachi, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan
- London slanginnit, bruv, fam, roadman, bare