पक्का

Pukka comes from Hindi पक्का (pakkā), meaning 'ripe, cooked, solid, permanent.' In British India, it distinguished permanent structures (pukka houses of brick) from temporary ones (kutcha houses of mud).

British colonials adopted 'pukka' to mean 'genuine, high-quality, the real thing.' A 'pukka sahib' was a true gentleman. The word carried approval.

The word faded after the Raj ended, but British chef Jamie Oliver revived it in the 1990s. Now 'pukka' sounds like cheerful British slang.

Most Brits who say 'pukka' don't know it's Hindi. The colonial origin has been forgotten.