Harki

H4A1R1K5I1

noun

An Algerian Muslim who fought with the French during Algeria’s war of independence from 1954-1962; loosely, an Algerian Muslim who supported the French presence in Algeria.

OriginFrench Harki ← Algerian Arabic حركي →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounHarki (plural Harkis)

plural Harkis

  1. An Algerian Muslim who fought with the French during Algeria’s war of independence from 1954-1962; loosely, an Algerian Muslim who supported the French presence in Algeria.

    On top of this there is the residual bitterness and strife between the ‘new’ immigrants and the Harkis, the Algerians loyal to the French Army who took root in France in 1962 and have assiduously resisted integration.

    2006, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 17

Origin

  1. Algerian Arabicحركي
  2. FrenchHarki
  3. EnglishHarki

Borrowed from French Harki, from Algerian Arabic حركي (ḥarkī), from حركة (ḥarka, “military operation”) (standard Arabic حركة (ḥaraka, “movement”)).

More words from French, Algerian Arabic

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

rakhikhair
Cite this entry
APA

Harki. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Harki

MLA

“Harki.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Harki. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Harki,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Harki.

Source: Harki on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.