I know you guys think it means “domestic” – someone who wants to care for a home.
That’s not what it means. It’s the equivalent of calling someone plain and unattractive.
Let’s add this to the list of words that desis use oddly/incorrectly:
-saloon/salon
-personality
-decent
-healthy
-homely
Re: “Homely”
Nice information :k:
Re: “Homely”
OMG, the incorrect usage of homely was one of my greatest pet peeves!!!
But then I went and looked up the definition of homely in the dictionary. Apparently the Americans and British define homely to be totally different things:
US : not pretty or handsome : plain or unattractive
Use in sentence: She has a homely face. 
He’s a bit homely but nice.
Brit : plain and simple in an appealing or pleasant way
The hotel has a homely =(US) homey] atmosphere.Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
US English will use the adjective homey instead of homely.
Re: “Homely”
^ I think the root concept of plain is still there. Regardless it doesn’t feel domestic.
So many marriageable girls are given the praise of being “homely.” It’s so annoying!
Re: “Homely”
sahar in the uk homely is used in more of a positive way - this place is so homely means this place is so warm and appealing.
Anyway i hate the way desis use the word decent really oddly.
I find the word character used kind of oddly too by desis.
Re: “Homely”
This annoys me so much as well 
Agree that the ‘plain’ factor is still there (‘my daughter is very simple’ ie doesn’t care too much about material things or her looks)..
When it comes to girls aren’t ‘clever’ and ‘daring’ often given negative connotations as well?
Re: “Homely”
but the use in pre-twentieth century books describing some daughter of an innkeeper is usually negative. 
Re: “Homely”
Inspiron: I remember my mumani saying my mangni clothes were really decent, and not knowing how to take it. Tho I think it was meant as a compliment.
Is character used like personality? Desis usually mean physical appearance.
Re: “Homely”
another word they use funny is ‘healthy’ to mean fat.
Re: “Homely”
I agree with Inspiron. Here in UK we use ‘homely’ only in a positive sense.The word that really makes me laugh is ‘tension’. As in ‘mujhay tension ho rahi hai’ or the best one: tension mut lo! LOL
Re: “Homely”
“fall pregnant”
Super annoying.