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Paki

(UK, Canada, by extension) Anyone whose origins are perceived to be from South Asia or the Indian subcontinent.

ˈpækiDocumented since 1960s1960sBoomerhistoricalCurrent153 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
3 definitions
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~1960 · 1 year of recorded use
1960Born2026: 5 citationsToday, 2026
Boomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →

Seen in the wild

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, Canada, by extension) Anyone whose origins are perceived to be from South Asia or the Indian subcontinent.

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For parents

Paki means: Anyone whose origins are perceived to be from South Asia or the Indian subcontinent.. It is mainly Canadian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

Paki means: Anyone whose origins are perceived to be from South Asia or the Indian subcontinent.. Register: informal, Canadian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Heard in the wild
  • “#Pakistan's War On The #Taliban: Can #Kabul's Regime Be Changed? www.thelevantfiles.org/2026/05/paki...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Or went "Paki bashing" in the 70s.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “like paki is their slur for indian. its a real puzzler”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “I've never heard anyone use "paki", that always seemed like a very UK slur. I have however heard anti-Indian bigotry”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, Canada, India) A Pakistani.

Their byword is Aggro (Aggravation) and their crucial enemies are hippies, homosexuals and Pakis (Pakistanis or Indians).
Origin: Either a or a .. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Heard in the wild
  • “The Blue Birds - Baro Chal [Paki, Instrumental, Psych, Folk] (1973) https://redd.it/wll6qp https://youtu.be/J418JAc1fms”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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UKOffensive
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK

(British, Canada, pejorative, racial slur) Pakistani, or perceived to be Pakistani.

For parents

Paki means: Pakistani, or perceived to be Pakistani.. It is mainly Canadian English and may not be understood outside that context. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

Paki means: Pakistani, or perceived to be Pakistani.. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself.

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For specific readers

Paki means: Anyone whose origins are perceived to be from South Asia or the Indian subcontinent.. It is mainly Canadian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK

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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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