Meaning & use
Pakis
Last updated
“Pakis” is a form of “Paki”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluraloffensive
The plural of an offensive racist term used to insult people from Pakistan or with South Asian family roots.
Grammar: Plural of Paki; it is a slur and is only mentioned, not used, in neutral writing.
The report listed Pakis among the racist words that pupils heard in the playground.
Teachers explained that Pakis is a slur and that using it can lead to punishment.
In the 1970s, people were often abused with the word Pakis in the street.
Word forms
| singular | Paki |
|---|
Common combinations
- racist slur
- The newspaper described Pakis as a racist slur that has no place in public life.
- banned word
- The school treats Pakis as a banned word.
- abusive term
- Pakis is an abusive term and should never be used.
Word family
- Pakistani noun
- a person from Pakistan; the neutral, correct word
- Pakistani adjective
- relating to Pakistan or its people
- Pakistan proper noun
- the country in South Asia
Commonly confused: Pakis or Pakistanis?
Pakis vs Pakistanis
Pakistanis is the neutral plural for people from Pakistan. Pakis is an offensive slur and not an acceptable shortened form.
Practice
Which word should you use to describe people from Pakistan in a respectful way?
Choose one answer.
Pakistanis is the correct, neutral plural. Pakis is a racist slur, and the other options are not real English forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Pakis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.