khaki
B1Neutral, used in everyday, military, and fashion contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A dull brownish-yellow colour, often used for military uniforms.
A hard-wearing fabric of a drab brownish-yellow colour, typically used in military clothing, workwear, and casual trousers (chinos); also refers to the colour itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun (the fabric/colour) and an adjective (describing the colour). In US English, 'khakis' commonly refers to the trousers themselves.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'khaki' primarily refers to the colour or fabric. In American English, the plural 'khakis' is a standard term for casual trousers of that colour/fabric (synonymous with 'chinos').
Connotations
Military, practical, casual, uniform; can also connote a bland or drab aesthetic.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE due to 'khakis' as a common clothing item.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be + khaki (adj.)wear + khaki (n.)dressed in + khakia pair of + khakis (n., AmE)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Khaki election (historical: an election influenced by wartime sentiment).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In retail/fashion: 'Our spring line features classic khaki chinos.'
Academic
In historical/military studies: 'The adoption of khaki uniforms revolutionised battlefield camouflage.'
Everyday
Describing clothing: 'He prefers to wear khakis to work on Fridays.'
Technical
In textile manufacturing: 'The khaki dye is achieved using a specific mix of pigments.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/archaic) 'The regiment was khakied for service in the colonies.'
American English
- (Rare/archaic) Not typically used.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- He wore a khaki shirt to the outdoor event.
- The walls were painted a dull khaki.
American English
- She bought a khaki jacket for the fall.
- The company's dress code allows khaki pants.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His bag is khaki.
- I like your khaki trousers.
- The soldiers were dressed in khaki uniforms.
- Do you have these shorts in khaki?
- The khaki fabric faded after many washes in the sun.
- He argued that the corporate world had become a sea of identical khaki and grey.
- The photographer deliberately used a palette of khakis and ochres to evoke a sense of arid decay.
- The political campaign was criticised for its khaki rhetoric, overly reliant on militaristic nationalism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'car key' (sounds like BrE /ˈkɑːki/) – you might drop it in the dusty, khaki-coloured sand.
Conceptual Metaphor
KHKI IS CAMOUFLAGE / KHKI IS BLANDNESS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'какао' (cocoa). The Russian borrowing 'хаки' is direct and accurate.
- In Russian, 'хаки' is an indeclinable noun/adjective, similar to English usage.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'kaki' or 'khacki'.
- Pronouncing the 'kh' as /kʰ/ (as in 'loch'); it is a simple /k/.
- Using 'khaki' as a countable noun for one trouser leg ('a khaki') – incorrect.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'khakis' in American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. Originally referring to a specific type of cloth and its distinctive dull yellow-brown colour, the term now commonly refers to either.
In British English, it is /ˈkɑːki/ (KAR-key). In American English, it is /ˈkæki/ (KACK-ee). The 'kh' is pronounced as a simple /k/.
It comes from the Urdu and Persian word 'khāk', meaning 'dust' or 'earth'. It entered English via the British Indian Army in the mid-19th century.
In modern American usage, they are largely synonymous, both referring to casual cotton trousers. Technically, 'chino' refers to the twill fabric and style, while 'khaki' specifies the colour. Trousers can be chinos in a khaki colour.