# khaki

> English word · Noun · IPA /xɑki/ · frequency rank #27,529

## Definitions
1. A dull, yellowish-brown colour, the colour of dust.
2. Khaki green, a dull green colour.
3. A strong cloth of wool or cotton, often used for military or other uniforms.
4. A soldier wearing a khaki uniform.
5. A British person.
6. Khaki clothing or uniform.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Hindustani خاکی (xākī) / ख़ाकी (xākī), from Classical Persian خَاکِی (xākī, “dusty, earthy, earth-colored”).
Noun sense 5 was coined in reference to the colour of the uniform of British troops during the Second Boer War; compare rooinek.

## Easily confused with
- **khan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/khaki-vs-khan)
- **kiki** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/khaki-vs-kiki)
- **Khalid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/khaki-vs-khalid)
- **Khalil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/khaki-vs-khalil)
- **Kharkiv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/khaki-vs-kharkiv)
- **kai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kai-vs-khaki)
- **kali** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kali-vs-khaki)
- **kami** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kami-vs-khaki)
- **Kari** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kari-vs-khaki)
- **kaka** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kaka-vs-khaki)

## Common misspellings (7)
`hkaki`, `kahki`, `khaik`, `khakki`, `khhaki`, `khkai`, `kkhaki`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/khaki