askari: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “askari” mean?
A soldier or police officer, especially in East Africa or other regions where Swahili is spoken.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soldier or police officer, especially in East Africa or other regions where Swahili is spoken.
A locally recruited soldier or guard serving in colonial or post-colonial military or security forces in Africa, or, by extension, any armed guard or militiaman.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in both varieties, but more likely to be encountered in British English due to historical colonial connections.
Connotations
Evokes British colonial history in Africa (e.g., King's African Rifles). In American English, it's an exotic, specialized term.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general use; slightly higher frequency in British academic/historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “askari” in a Sentence
[The/Adj] askari (verb) [object/location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “askari” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The askari recruits underwent rigorous training.
- He served in an askari battalion during the campaign.
American English
- Askari units played a key role in the conflict.
- The monument honoured the askari soldiers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, African studies, and military history texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation outside specific regions.
Technical
Used in historical and military writing focused on Africa.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “askari”
- Pluralizing as 'askaris' (acceptable but less common than using 'askari' as an invariant plural).
- Mispronouncing the stress (stress is on the second syllable: as-KA-ri).
- Using outside an African historical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from Swahili, which borrowed it from Arabic 'ʿaskariyy' (soldierly), from 'ʿaskar' (army).
It is a very low-frequency word, used almost exclusively in historical, academic, or specific regional (East African) contexts.
Both 'askari' (invariant) and 'askaris' are used. 'Askari' is often treated as a collective plural noun.
Yes, in Swahili and some derived uses in English, it can refer to a policeman or guard as well as a soldier.
A soldier or police officer, especially in East Africa or other regions where Swahili is spoken.
Askari is usually technical/historical in register.
Askari: in British English it is pronounced /asˈkɑːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑsˈkɑri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Turn askari (informal, E. Africa: to switch allegiance, become an informant).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ASK A RIfle - a soldier is asked to carry a rifle.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOYALTY IS SERVICE (often framed as loyal service to a foreign power).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'askari' most accurately used?