desi
/ˈdeɪ.si/adjective, noun
desi is spelled D-E-S-I: 4 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 1.2 times per million words in written English, the 26,092nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, desi means “Alternative form of Desi” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in desi?
| Letters | 4: D-E-S-I |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.2 times per million words; the 26,092nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is desi?
Desi appears 1.2 times per million words in written English, the 26,092nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce desi?
- /ˈdeɪ.si/
- /ˈdɛs.i/
Desi has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-Desi2.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-Desi.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with desi?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as desi.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: side, ides.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of desi
- more desi comparative
- most desi superlative
- desis plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does desi mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Alternative form of Desi.
noun
- 1
Alternative form of Desi.
- 2
A particular variety of cultivated chickpea.
adjective
- 1
Of or pertaining to the culture, people, or products of South Asia; South Asian.
noun
- 1
A member of the South Asian diaspora.
Desis from the United States have an accent; those from Canada, another.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does desi come from?
Borrowed from Hindustani دیسی (desī) / देसी (desī).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).