What it means
Pukka means properly good, the real-deal version of something, not some flimsy knock-off. You can use it for food, gear, a job well done, even a person. It’s very British, a bit old-school, and lands as warm, easy praise when something’s spot on without needing to make a big song and dance of it.
Usage examples
"That new chippy on the high street is pukka. Crispy batter, proper chunky chips, and the bloke behind the counter chucks in an extra sausage."
"We found a proper pukka little curry house down a side street, best vindaloo I have had in years."
"She did a pukka job on the garden, looks like something off one of those telly makeover shows."
"That bacon sarnie from the café by the station was pukka, proper crispy and no stingy on the sauce."
"Cheers for fixing my bike, mate. Runs pukka now."
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Where it comes from
It came into British English from Hindi and Urdu pakkā, meaning solid, ripe, fully done, or the proper thing. The word travelled back through the Raj and settled into UK speech as a neat way to say something’s the real article, sound, and properly good.
Other ways to say it
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