Singlish & Meanings
-
English is widely spoken in Singapore ... or is it? Many first-time visitors have been confounded by the colloquialisms that pepper Singaporeans' speech. This is because we speak very quickly (or so it's been said) and with a distinct Singaporean accent. Over the years, Singaporeans have developed their own brand of English fondly referred to as 'Singlish'.
With our multi-racial background, it's not surprising that 'Singlish' borrows from the many different languages spoken in Singapore. Here's a collection of 'Singlish' terms:
Action (verb)
Derived from the English language meaning to show off.
Example: That fellow always like to action, walking around with his Rolex over his shirt sleeves.
Arrow (verb)
Derived from the English language meaning to be given a task that you don't want to do.
Example: I was arrowed to paint this wall.
Blur (adj)
Derived from the English language meaning does not know what is going on.
Example: He hasn't read up on the background to this project and was very blur at the meeting.
Boh-Chup (adj)
Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning couldn't care less.
Example: Ah, boh-chup, I'm not going to hand in my assignment.
Chim (adj)
Pronounced 'cheem'.
Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning profound.
Example: The professor's lecture was very chim.
Chope (verb)
Derived from the English language meaning to reserve.
Example: It's free seating at the concert, we need to get there early to chope seats for our group.
Gostun (verb)
Derived from the English language (go stern) meaning to reverse.
Example: He overshot the turning so had to gostun back up the road.
Havoc (adj)
Derived from the English language meaning wild and uncontrollable.
Example: That person is very havoc, always out late every night.
Kayu (adj)
Pronounced 'kah-yoo'.
Derived from the Malay language meaning dumb or stupid.
Example: How come he is so kayu? Teach him so many times and he still cannot do it.
Kiasu (adj)
Pronounced 'kee-a-soo'.
Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning afraid to lose out to others or not to lose face.
Example: He sent his family to line up in different queues for the same item, so kiasu.
Lah
The most famous of Singaporean expressions used at the end of sentences for emphasis.
Example: Very funny, lah!
Langgar (verb)
Derived from the Malay language meaning to collide.
Example: This van suddenly pulled out and langgar my car.
Obiang (adj)
Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning ugly or outdated.
Example: This dress is so obiang! Who is going to buy it?
Pai seh (adj)
Pronounced 'pie-say'.
Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning embarrassed or shy.
Example: That's the third time I've forgotten her name. So pai seh.
Shiok (adj)
Pronounced 'shee-oak'
Derived from the Malay language (Straits Chinese) meaning fantastic or marvellous.
Example: That prawn mee soup was shiok!"
Sekali
A word meaning suddenly.
Example: "I was about to make a right turn. Sekali this car appears from nowhere and nearly langgar me!"
Solid (adj)
Derived from the English language meaning great or superb.
Example: Did you see how he scored the goal? Solid, man!
Sotong (adj)
Derived from the Malay language meaning does not know what is going on. Similar meaning to 'blur'. (Sotong is the Malay word for octopus which squirts ink and clouds everything.)
Example: This has been going on for months, didn't you know? Sotong!
Suaku (noun)
Pronounced 'soo-ah-koo'.
Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning country bumpkin.
Example: Don't be so suaku lah, don't you know what a VCD player is?
Terok (adj)
Derived from the Malay language meaning troublesome or difficult.
Example: That customer was very terok.
Tompang (verb)
Pronounced 'tome-pang'.
Derived from the Malay language meaning to ride on or request a favour.
Example: You're going to the post office? Can I tompang some letters to be mailed?
Ulu (adj)
Pronounced 'oo-loo'.
Derived from Malay language meaning rural or a deserted place.
Example: This place is so ulu, you hardly see a single soul around even on weekends.
Ya Ya (adj)
An expression meaning boastful or arrogant.
Example: Wah, he's so ya ya -
kan cheong spider
u noe he kancheong spider u still ask him to do, nvr die before ah
-
That's a good compilation. However for 'lah' I think the meaning can also be to reduce emphasis, instead of to increase emphasis only. Depends on usage.
For example.
If somebody ask you if you are offended or not......you can asnwer by saying 'no lah' , which reduces emphasis and informalizes your tone, instead of saying the firmer 'no' .
However this depends on pronounciation and stressing, because you can also increase the emphasis by saying 'no LAH', which indeed, express a stronger and firmer emphasis than just a 'no'.
So, depending on stressing and context, 'lah' can be either to increase or decrease emphasis.
I think only hor. -
my supervisors know 'kiasu' and '5Cs' because they are mentioned in my thesis
-
I didn't know the word "blur" is counted as Singlish. All along I thought it was an English word.
-
is is a english word actuallyOriginally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:I didn't know the word "blur" is counted as Singlish. All along I thought it was an English word.
-
blur is an english word but it isn't used in the context like 'he was very blur' in standard english. instead the word is used in 'vision is blur', 'image is blur', 'glasses are blur'.Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:I didn't know the word "blur" is counted as Singlish. All along I thought it was an English word.
only in singlish we use 'blur' to describe a person -
i tot ur doin arts leh..not languageOriginally posted by TehJarVu:my supervisors know 'kiasu' and '5Cs' because they are mentioned in my thesis 
-
havoc is singlish?
-
i think terms on how we use itOriginally posted by stellazio:havoc is singlish? -
There's a definitive and longer list in wiki.
-
my neighbour sayOriginally posted by RaTtY81:kan cheong spider
u noe he kancheong spider u still ask him to do, nvr die before ah
'kan cheong spider, caterpillar'
why ah? -
Because when you kan cheong, your hands move like spider. Also similar to caterpillar. Something like sou mang jiao luan. Get the picture?Originally posted by finoq:my neighbour say
'kan cheong spider, caterpillar'
why ah? -
ic...it kinda rhymes tooOriginally posted by newcomer:Because when you kan cheong, your hands move like spider. Also similar to caterpillar. Something like sou mang jiao luan. Get the picture?
-
ya. it's a good invention.Originally posted by finoq:ic...it kinda rhymes too -
I see. Clearer now.Originally posted by hegu:blur is an english word but it isn't used in the context like 'he was very blur' in standard english. instead the word is used in 'vision is blur', 'image is blur', 'glasses are blur'.
only in singlish we use 'blur' to describe a person -
what bout knnccb?
-
coxford dictionary got teach alot rite?