The former version of the A-Z expansion was proposed by South Asian immigrants as a reaction to the latter version that derogated them. The longer and lesser known form 'American Born Confused Desi, Emigrated From Gujarat, House In Jersey' is also occasionally seen playing on the alphabet theme, it has been expanded for K-Z variously as 'Kids Learning Medicine, Now Owning Property, Quite Reasonable Salary, Two Uncles Visiting, White Xenophobia, Yet Zestful' or 'Keeping Lotsa Motels, Named Omkarnath Patel, Quickly Reaching Success Through Underhanded Vicious Ways, Xenophobic Yet Zestful'. The term 'confused' is used to describe the psychological state of many second-generation South Asian Americans who struggle to balance values and traditions taught at home with attitudes and practices that are more conducive to the culture of The United States. The term has been commonly known among diasporas since at least the 1980s. Although it is not used much in South Asia and not as a set identity like the diasporas do. 'Desi' means 'of the homeland' and is generally used by diasporas of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The word has its origin in Sanskrit, deśa, and is pronounced desh in the Bengali language. The term ' desi' comes from the Hindi word देश ( deś, lit.

Though the term was originally coined in reference to Indian Americans, it has been adopted by the South Asian diaspora at large. 'ABCD' or 'American-Born Confused Desi' has become a polarizing factor in the South Asian diaspora in the United States, with first-generation immigrant parents and young South Asians of second or later generations. See also: Bangladeshi American, Indian American, and Pakistani American

Word 2013