desi

1 of 2

noun

de·​si ˈdā-sē  ˈde-sē 

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

Noun

His solution to possible isolation in Wolverhampton has been to absorb local culture, including, a couple of weeks ago, the ‘desi pub’. —Steve Madeley, New York Times, 17 May 2025

Among the restaurants his family frequented was a place called Julio’s, in Artesia, south of L.A., which offered pizza with Indian toppings, and appetizers such as desi poppers and masala wings. —Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Arya Bhavan Arya Bhavan is a beloved vegan and gluten-free Indian restaurant located along Chicago’s desi corridor, Devon Avenue. —Amy Bizzarri, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025

And San Jose’s Sam and Curry offers a fresh take on the fast-casual dining trend with Chipotle-style bowls using classic Desi ingredients like saag and lentils. —Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025

Besides references to desi pop culture, the game's soundtrack was made in collaboration with Nikhil Rao of Indian Ocean, an Indian fusion rock band. —Rahul Majumdar, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

But as the immigrant communities grew and some residents left their initial landing area, the suburbs increasingly developed their own ecosystems — and their unique takes on desi desserts. —Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2024

Each culture has its own way of preparing biryani, but the desi restaurants in the area around the World Cup stadium in East Meadow, N.Y., are used to serving up multiple styles. —Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, NPR, 8 June 2024

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

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