khaki

English

Alternative forms

• carkee, carky, karkey, khakee, kharkee, kharki (all obsolete)

Etymology

From Hindi–Urdu ख़ाकी / خاکی (xākī), from Classical Persian خاکی (xākī, “dusty, earthy, earth-colored”).

Pronunciation

• (General Australian, New Zealand, UK) enPR: kä-k'ē, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑː.ki/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• (General American) enPR: kă-k'ē, IPA^(key): /ˈkæ.ki/
• (Canada) enPR: kär-k'ē, kä-k'ē, kă-k'ē, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑɹ.ki/, /ˈkɑː.ki/, /ˈkæki/
• Homophone: cocky (some accents with the father-bother merger)
• Rhymes: -ɑːki, -æki, -ɑː(ɹ)ki

Noun

khaki (countable and uncountable, plural khakis or khakies)

1. A dull, yellowish-brown colour, the colour of dust.
   • 1899, Rudyard Kipling, The Absent-Minded Beggar:

     When you've shouted "Rule Britannia", when you've sung "God Save The Queen",
     When you've finished killing Kruger with your mouth;
     Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine
     For a gentleman in khaki ordered South?

   • 1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 60:

     But being the right shade of khaki or shit-brown is not enough.

   khaki (Pantone):  

   khaki (HTML):  

2. Khaki green, a dull green colour.
   • 1921, War work of the Bureau of Standards, no. 46, page 54.

     The English Government for a long time has used a type of pigmented dope cover, khaki colored by iron pigments and lampblack, which is called P. C. 10.

   • 2007, Yuji Matsuki, American Fighters Over Europe: Colors & Markings of USAAF Fighters in WWII, page 4, →ISBN.

     At the end of World War I, the U.S. Army Air Service painted everything khaki. This khaki was practically the same as British PC10 and can be considered the basis of the later olive drab color.

   • 2010, Martin Windrow, French Foreign Legion: Infantry and Cavalry since 1945, →ISBN, page 52:

     In these notes we have used the British rather than the US terms for colours: i.e. 'khaki' here means the drab brown - US 'olive drab' - used for woolen uniforms and 'khaki drill' for the pale yellowish tan - US 'khaki' - used for lightweight summer/tropical dress.

   • Op. cit., page 56

     The very loose seroual trousers were made in both sand-khaki drill, and in winter-weight khaki wool for wear with the M1946 battledress blouse.

   khaki green:  

3. A strong cloth of wool or cotton, often used for military or other uniforms.
4. (rare) A soldier wearing a khaki uniform.
5. (South Africa, derogatory, slang) A British person (from the colour of the uniform of British troops, originally in the Second Boer War; compare rooinek). (In this sense the plural generally is khakies.)
   • 1902, Philip Pienaar, With Steyn And De Wet‎^[2], Methuen:

     "Frank, it's a khaki," I whisper, "keep straight on."

   • 1997, Richard N. Kelly, John Cantrell, Modern British Statesmen, 1867-1945, page 90:

     War and then victory raised patriotic sentiment inside Britain and brought the Colonial Secretary national popularity. Unionists were quick to milk this with a 'khaki' election in 1900 at which they won a massive landslide.

6. (often in plural) Khaki clothing or uniform.
   • 1915 Out West magazine

     The porter in going through the rear coach, which was almost empty, noticed one of the occupants, a muscular, soldierly man in khakies to be apparently asleep in his seat.

Derived terms

• Khaki Campbell
• khaki drill
• khaki election
• khaki-green

 

Translations

yellowish-brown colour

• Arabic: please add this translation if you can
• Bulgarian: хаки (haki)
• Catalan: caqui (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 卡其色 (kǎqísè), 黃褐色／黄褐色 (zh) (huánghèsè)

• Czech: khaki (cs)
• Danish: please add this translation if you can
• Dutch: kaki (nl) n
• Finnish: khaki (fi)
• Georgian: ხაკი (xaḳi), ხაკისფერი (xaḳisperi)
• German: Kaki (de) n, Khaki (de) n
• Hebrew: חָקִי (he) m (khakí)
• Hindi: ख़ाकी (xākī)
• Indonesian: kaki (id)
• Italian: cachi (it) m
• Japanese: カーキ色 (ja) (kāki-iro)
• Khmer: កាគី (kaakii)
• Korean: 카키색 (ko) (kakisaek)
• Malayalam: ഖാക്കി (ml) (khākki)
• Maori: pākā kōrito
• Marathi: खाकी m (khākī)
• Norman: kaki m
• Persian: خاکی (fa) (xâki)
• Polish: khaki (pl) n
• Portuguese: cáqui (pt), caqui (pt)
• Romanian: kaki (ro)
• Russian: ха́ки (ru) n (xáki), цвет ха́ки m (cvet xáki)
• Spanish: caqui (es) m
• Thai: กากี (th) (gaa-gii)
• Ukrainian: ха́кі n (xáki)
• Urdu: خاکی (xākī)
• Vietnamese: màu kaki

khaki green — see khaki green

strong cloth of wool or cotton

• Arabic: please add this translation if you can
• Catalan: caqui (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 卡其布 (kǎqíbù)

• Danish: please add this translation if you can
• Dutch: legerkledij f
• Finnish: khaki (fi), khakikangas
• Italian: cachi (it) m
• Japanese: please add this translation if you can
• Korean: please add this translation if you can
• Norman: kaki m
• Portuguese: caqui (pt) m
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: caqui (es) m
• Vietnamese: vải kaki, vải khaki

Adjective

khaki (comparative more khaki, superlative most khaki)

1. Dust-coloured; of the colour of dust.

Derived terms

• khaki green

Translations

dust-coloured

• Arabic: كَاكِي (kākī), خَاكِي (ḵākī)
• Bulgarian: хаки (haki)
• Catalan: caqui (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 黃褐色／黄褐色 (zh) (huánghèsè)

• Danish: please add this translation if you can
• Dutch: kakikleurig (nl)
• Esperanto: kakia
• Finnish: khakinvärinen
• Georgian: ხაკი (xaḳi), ხაკისფერი (xaḳisperi)
• German: kaki (de), khaki, kakifarben (de), khakifarben (de)
• Hindi: ख़ाकी (xākī)
• Interlingua: khaki, de color khaki
• Italian: cachi (it) m
• Japanese: カーキ色 (ja) (kāki-iro)
• Korean: please add this translation if you can
• Maori: pākā kōrito
• Persian: خاکی (fa) (xâki)
• Portuguese: cáqui (pt), caqui (pt)
• Romanian: kaki (ro)
• Russian: ха́ки (ru) (xáki)
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can
• Urdu: خاکی (xākī)
• Vietnamese: màu kaki, màu khaki

See also

• Appendix:Colors

Finnish

Etymology

From English khaki.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkhɑki/, [ˈkhɑ̝k̟i]
• Rhymes: -ɑki
• Syllabification^(key): kha‧ki

Noun

khaki

1. khaki (cloth)

   Synonym: khakikangas

2. khaki (beige colour)

Declension

Inflection of khaki (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		khaki	khakit
genitive		khakin	khakien
partitive		khakia	khakeja
illative		khakiin	khakeihin
		singular	plural
nominative		khaki	khakit
accusative	nom.	khaki	khakit
	gen.	khakin
genitive		khakin	khakien
partitive		khakia	khakeja
inessive		khakissa	khakeissa
elative		khakista	khakeista
illative		khakiin	khakeihin
adessive		khakilla	khakeilla
ablative		khakilta	khakeilta
allative		khakille	khakeille
essive		khakina	khakeina
translative		khakiksi	khakeiksi
abessive		khakitta	khakeitta
instructive		—	khakein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of khaki (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative khakini khakini accusative nom. khakini khakini gen. khakini genitive khakini khakieni partitive khakiani khakejani inessive khakissani khakeissani elative khakistani khakeistani illative khakiini khakeihini adessive khakillani khakeillani ablative khakiltani khakeiltani allative khakilleni khakeilleni essive khakinani khakeinani translative khakikseni khakeikseni abessive khakittani khakeittani instructive — — comitative — khakeineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative khakisi khakisi accusative nom. khakisi khakisi gen. khakisi genitive khakisi khakiesi partitive khakiasi khakejasi inessive khakissasi khakeissasi elative khakistasi khakeistasi illative khakiisi khakeihisi adessive khakillasi khakeillasi ablative khakiltasi khakeiltasi allative khakillesi khakeillesi essive khakinasi khakeinasi translative khakiksesi khakeiksesi abessive khakittasi khakeittasi instructive — — comitative — khakeinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative khakimme khakimme accusative nom. khakimme khakimme gen. khakimme genitive khakimme khakiemme partitive khakiamme khakejamme inessive khakissamme khakeissamme elative khakistamme khakeistamme illative khakiimme khakeihimme adessive khakillamme khakeillamme ablative khakiltamme khakeiltamme allative khakillemme khakeillemme essive khakinamme khakeinamme translative khakiksemme khakeiksemme abessive khakittamme khakeittamme instructive — — comitative — khakeinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative khakinne khakinne accusative nom. khakinne khakinne gen. khakinne genitive khakinne khakienne partitive khakianne khakejanne inessive khakissanne khakeissanne elative khakistanne khakeistanne illative khakiinne khakeihinne adessive khakillanne khakeillanne ablative khakiltanne khakeiltanne allative khakillenne khakeillenne essive khakinanne khakeinanne translative khakiksenne khakeiksenne abessive khakittanne khakeittanne instructive — — comitative — khakeinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative khakinsa khakinsa accusative nom. khakinsa khakinsa gen. khakinsa genitive khakinsa khakiensa partitive khakiaan khakiansa khakejaan khakejansa inessive khakissaan khakissansa khakeissaan khakeissansa elative khakistaan khakistansa khakeistaan khakeistansa illative khakiinsa khakeihinsa adessive khakillaan khakillansa khakeillaan khakeillansa ablative khakiltaan khakiltansa khakeiltaan khakeiltansa allative khakilleen khakillensa khakeilleen khakeillensa essive khakinaan khakinansa khakeinaan khakeinansa translative khakikseen khakiksensa khakeikseen khakeiksensa abessive khakittaan khakittansa khakeittaan khakeittansa instructive — — comitative — khakeineen khakeinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• khakiasu
• khakihousut
• khakikangas
• khakinvärinen
• khakipuku

 

Adjective

khaki (comparative khakimpi, superlative khakein)

1. khaki (beige colour)

Declension

Inflection of khaki (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		khaki	khakit
genitive		khakin	khakien
partitive		khakia	khakeja
illative		khakiin	khakeihin
		singular	plural
nominative		khaki	khakit
accusative	nom.	khaki	khakit
	gen.	khakin
genitive		khakin	khakien
partitive		khakia	khakeja
inessive		khakissa	khakeissa
elative		khakista	khakeista
illative		khakiin	khakeihin
adessive		khakilla	khakeilla
ablative		khakilta	khakeilta
allative		khakille	khakeille
essive		khakina	khakeina
translative		khakiksi	khakeiksi
abessive		khakitta	khakeitta
instructive		—	khakein
comitative		—	khakeine

Possessive forms of khaki (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
Rare. Only used with substantive adjectives.
first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative khakini khakini accusative nom. khakini khakini gen. khakini genitive khakini khakieni partitive khakiani khakejani inessive khakissani khakeissani elative khakistani khakeistani illative khakiini khakeihini adessive khakillani khakeillani ablative khakiltani khakeiltani allative khakilleni khakeilleni essive khakinani khakeinani translative khakikseni khakeikseni abessive khakittani khakeittani instructive — — comitative — khakeineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative khakisi khakisi accusative nom. khakisi khakisi gen. khakisi genitive khakisi khakiesi partitive khakiasi khakejasi inessive khakissasi khakeissasi elative khakistasi khakeistasi illative khakiisi khakeihisi adessive khakillasi khakeillasi ablative khakiltasi khakeiltasi allative khakillesi khakeillesi essive khakinasi khakeinasi translative khakiksesi khakeiksesi abessive khakittasi khakeittasi instructive — — comitative — khakeinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative khakimme khakimme accusative nom. khakimme khakimme gen. khakimme genitive khakimme khakiemme partitive khakiamme khakejamme inessive khakissamme khakeissamme elative khakistamme khakeistamme illative khakiimme khakeihimme adessive khakillamme khakeillamme ablative khakiltamme khakeiltamme allative khakillemme khakeillemme essive khakinamme khakeinamme translative khakiksemme khakeiksemme abessive khakittamme khakeittamme instructive — — comitative — khakeinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative khakinne khakinne accusative nom. khakinne khakinne gen. khakinne genitive khakinne khakienne partitive khakianne khakejanne inessive khakissanne khakeissanne elative khakistanne khakeistanne illative khakiinne khakeihinne adessive khakillanne khakeillanne ablative khakiltanne khakeiltanne allative khakillenne khakeillenne essive khakinanne khakeinanne translative khakiksenne khakeiksenne abessive khakittanne khakeittanne instructive — — comitative — khakeinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative khakinsa khakinsa accusative nom. khakinsa khakinsa gen. khakinsa genitive khakinsa khakiensa partitive khakiaan khakiansa khakejaan khakejansa inessive khakissaan khakissansa khakeissaan khakeissansa elative khakistaan khakistansa khakeistaan khakeistansa illative khakiinsa khakeihinsa adessive khakillaan khakillansa khakeillaan khakeillansa ablative khakiltaan khakiltansa khakeiltaan khakeiltansa allative khakilleen khakillensa khakeilleen khakeillensa essive khakinaan khakinansa khakeinaan khakeinansa translative khakikseen khakiksensa khakeikseen khakeiksensa abessive khakittaan khakittansa khakeittaan khakeittansa instructive — — comitative — khakeineen khakeinensa

Further reading

• “khaki”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[3] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-02

French

Etymology

From English khaki.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.ki/

Adjective

khaki (plural khakis)

1. (archaic) Alternative spelling of kaki

German

Alternative forms

• kaki

Etymology

Borrowed from English khaki.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkaːki/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: kha‧ki

Adjective

khaki (indeclinable)

1. khaki (color)

References

• “khaki” in Duden online
• “khaki” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Indonesian

Etymology

From English khaki, from Hindi–Urdu ख़ाकी / خاکی (xākī), from Persian خاکی (xâki, “dusty, earthy, earth-colored”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈxaki]
• Hyphenation: kha‧ki

Noun

khaki (first-person possessive khakiku, second-person possessive khakimu, third-person possessive khakinya)

1. khaki: a dull, yellowish-brown colour, the colour of dust.

   khaki (Pantone):  

   khaki (HTML):  

Alternative forms

• kaki

Further reading

• “khaki” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.

Polish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English khaki.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka.ki/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aki
• Syllabification: kha‧ki
• Homophone: kaki

Adjective

khaki (not comparable, no derived adverb)

1. khaki

   Synonym: szarozielony

Noun

khaki n (indeclinable)

1. khaki (color)

See also

Colors in Polish · kolory (layout · text)

biały	szary	czarny
czerwony; karmazyn	pomarańczowy; brązowy	żółty; beżowy
limonkowy	zielony	miętowy; ciemnozielony
cyjan; morski	błękitny	niebieski
fuksja; indygo	magenta; purpurowy	różowy

Further reading

• khaki in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• khaki in Polish dictionaries at PWN