pukka

or puck·a

[ puhk-uh ]

adjective

, Indian English.

1. genuine, reliable, or good; proper.

pukka

/ ˈpʌkə /

adjective

1. properly or perfectly done, constructed, etc

   a pukka road

2. genuine

   pukka sahib

Word History and Origins

Origin of pukka¹

First recorded in 1690–1700, pukka is from the Hindi word pakkā cooked, ripe, mature

Word History and Origins

Origin of pukka¹

C17: from Hindi pakkā firm, from Sanskrit pakva

Example Sentences

Ms Barrie says she grew up in a "pukka Anglo-Indian home", listening to country music stars Merle Haggard and Buck Owens and relishing meat ball curry, coconut rice and devil chutney.

From BBC

He packs Magid back home to be educated, but the son returns eight years later with a pukka English accent and a serene atheism.

From New York Times

The ones closer to the city, like Chetla, are often hundreds of years old, with pukka houses made of concrete, tin roofs and real floors.

From The Guardian

“What,” asked Dr. Constantine with interest, “does a pukka sahib mean?”

From Literature

What has happened is that Facebook’s boss has concluded that allowing publishers of news – both pukka and bogus – on to Facebook is more trouble than it is worth.

From The Guardian