Friend, mate. Borrowed from Hindi/Urdu दोस्त / دوست, itself ultimately from Persian dōst. In South Asian English the word carries a warmer, more loyal connotation than the plain English "friend" — a dost is closer to a brother-in-arms, the friend you keep for life. Used as a noun for the friend themselves ("my dost from college") and occasionally as a direct address ("dost, sun"). Cross-cultural usage in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi English alike, and a staple of Bollywood lyrics where lifelong friendship is being celebrated.
Arre yaar, this is my dost from school days, we have known each other since age six.
Add your own interpretation of "dost".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with D.
Hindi / Urdu for "friend, buddy, man." Sprinkled into Indian English casually the way "mate" or "bro" is — "come on yaar, let's go." Works as address, filler, or emphatic closer. Ubiquitous across South Asian English.
Hindi/Urdu for "brother"; widely used as a friendly address between men regardless of actual relation. Extended into Indian English as a casual "bro."
(especially, North India) friend, dude, man.
Definite, confirmed, solid, authentic, genuine. From Hindi पक्का (also Urdu پکا, Punjabi), literally meaning "ripe" or "cooked" — by metaphorical extension "fully formed", "the real thing". In South Asian English used to certify everything from plans ("pakka plan" = confirmed plan, definitely happening) to friendships ("pakka friend" = true friend, ride-or-die) to construction ("pakka house" = a permanent brick-built house, as opposed to a kachha mud-walled one). Also used to confirm a fact in conversation: "Pakka?" — "Pakka." The opposite is "kachha" (raw, unfinished, unreliable). One of the most universally understood words across Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi speakers.
No comments yet — say something.