askari

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noun

A member of a local African military or police unit, usually one serving in a European colonial force.

OriginSwahili askari ← Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy) ← Middle Persian lšklbor.? →
UncommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

askari1

nounaskari (plural askari or askaris)

plural askaris

  1. historicalA member of a local African military or police unit, usually one serving in a European colonial force.

Askari2

proper nounAskari (plural Askaris)

plural Askaris

  1. A surname from Arabic.

Origin

askari · noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂lek-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂lékseti
  3. Proto-Indo-Iranian*Hrákšati
  4. Proto-Iranian*karah
  5. Middle Persianlšklbor.?
  6. Arabicعَسْكَر (ʕaskar)
  7. Arabicـِيّ (-iyy)
  8. Arabicعَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy)
  9. Swahiliaskari
  10. Englishaskari

From Swahili askari (“soldier”), from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy). Doublet of lascar.

More words from Swahili, Arabic

Full word history & related roots →

Askari · proper noun

  1. Arabicعَسْكَرِيّ“soldier, policeman”
  2. EnglishAskari

Borrowed from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy, “soldier, policeman”).

More words from Arabic

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French askari
  • askarimember of local African military or police
German Askari
  • Askarimember of local African military or police
Italian ascaro
  • ascaromember of local African military or police
Polish askarys
  • askarysmember of local African military or police
Portuguese ascari
  • ascarimember of local African military or police
Swahili askari
  • askarimember of local African military or police

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

KasiraKasari
Cite this entry
APA

askari. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/askari

MLA

“askari.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/askari. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “askari,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/askari.

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