What does padi mean?
Padi is a regional term for the rice plant and, in some South and Southeast Asian contexts, for rice itself or its unprocessed grains. It is especially associated with the cultivation of rice in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei, where descriptions of farming, planting, and harvesting regularly use the word. In everyday regional usage, padi may refer to the standing crop as well as the grain that has not yet been milled or husked. Outside this setting, the term is uncommon, and speakers of international English normally use “rice” or “paddy.” Padi should not be confused with the English word “paddy,” which can mean unhusked rice, a rice field, or a person associated with Irish political activity. The word belongs to Southeast Asian vocabulary and offers a useful indication of the regional terminology used in rice-growing communities.
nounThe rice plant, especially as cultivated in Southeast Asia. In regional usage, padi can also refer to rice or its unprocessed grains.
- The rice plant, especially in Southeast Asian agricultural usage.
- Rice or unprocessed rice in regional usage.
"Farmers in the region traditionally transplanted young padi seedlings into the flooded fields."
"The floodwater supported dense stands of padi throughout the low-lying fields."
"Workers harvested padi by hand before the grain was taken to the mill."
Used when referring to individual rice plants or stands of rice; otherwise rice is normally treated as a mass noun.
"Several young padis were planted along the edge of the field."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does padi come from?
The English word was borrowed from Malay, in which padi denotes the rice plant or rice. Malay itself retains the word within the Austronesian language family, although its deeper reconstruction and relationship with similar forms in other Austronesian languages are less certain. In English, the borrowing became established chiefly in regional descriptions of Southeast Asian agriculture.
How padi is actually used
Padi is chiefly used in South and Southeast Asian English rather than in general international English. Its precise sense varies by region: it may denote the plant, the standing crop, or unprocessed rice.
Easily confused with padi
Padi is a Southeast Asian term for the rice plant or unprocessed rice, whereas paddy commonly denotes rice before husking and, in British English, a rice field.