Pukka
What it means
Genuine, properly made, and worthy of confidence.
Reach for it when giving informal British approval to something authentic or of high standard
The carpenter made a pukka repair with seasoned wood and fitted joints.
Words to choose between 6
| playful |
|
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
the real deal
Suits emphatic informal assurance that something is genuine and good
Careful The real deal is highly colloquial and can sound promotional.
-
everyday
Fits if the result is complete and meets the expected standard
Careful Proper also covers etiquette and suitability, so quality must come from context.
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warm
Suits excellent quality in widely understood language
Careful First-rate does not specifically promise authenticity.
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professional
Fits when where origin, method, or identity is not imitation
Careful Authentic can be contentious when traditions have several legitimate forms.
-
professional
Fits when authenticity can be established without judging quality
Careful Genuine may be authentic yet poorly made.
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formal
sound
Fits when solid construction or judgment inspires confidence
Careful Sound praises reliability but says nothing about origin.
Opposites 3
- bogus
- shoddy
- counterfeit
Common phrases 3
-
pukka job
The restored window was a pukka job, neat on both sides of the frame.
-
pukka meal
After the hike, they enjoyed a pukka meal rather than another snack.
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pukka article
The dealer confirmed that the signed print was a pukka article.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated