This is quite a forum! Kudos!
Actually, I had signed on here quite a while back but had found it quite a slog to participate, as I just couldn’t understand what all is actually being said…. I just don’t understand Singlish!
Of late I’ve learned that not only is this forum a lively and informative source of the latest news, but that such info/news do not only cover Singapore/have a great coverage of other parts of the world.
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This being so, I’m wondering if a glossary of the more popular Singlish in use on here would not only be useful to non-Singlish speakers, but that it may very well be what could attract more participation from us overseas. Perhaps even have a separate thread just for Singlish definitions? Like that thread of abbreviations?
Bro FeiGohGoh has been very gracious and provided a few translations whilst pointing me out to a couple web sites which fully explains Singlish terms
http://www.singlishdictionary.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/lemo..._influence.htm
But for the sake of others who are also not conversant with Singlish – and for me to refer back to quickly - I hope that nobody minds if I provide a few definitions I’ve figured out from using FeiGohGoh’s dictionary (or at least TRY!). I see these words being used uniquely and quite often on SBF; I would of course also appreciate it if you would correct wrong definitions I had written out (for sure I’ve translated a few wrongly!) as well as fill in the blanks!! (
bolded)
Thanks before hand!
First FeiGohGoh’s list
cheong : to play ( sexually )
haolian : arrogant, cocky
kena : happened to, affected by
siam : 閃, to disappear, avoid
liao : 了, exclamation..no real meaning
makan : to eat, food
meh : 咩 (Baa Baa sound of sheep – of little consequence)
wah lao : OMG, wow, damn
//////////////////
Other words I see being used here:
Ah-lain - a woman perceived to be loutish and uncouth, and who follows fashion trends but is often viewed as lacking taste
Ang moh – Westerner/white foreigner
ang kong kia -
Beh tahan – will not stand it/endure
Beli - buy
Beri – very
Bodoh – stupid, silly, fool
Bo jio –
Chee bye - The female (external?) genitalia: vulva, cunt, pussy.
Jialat/chialat - Difficult, troublesome, Severe, to a great extent; very bad, terrible.
Jou Gou -
Jual - sell
Kaki – Leg – but actually means friend or companion in an enterprise
Kao kao – to quarrell
Kekeke – sound of laughter
Kia - afraid
Kowpeh -
Kum sia - thanks
Lah, Lor,leh,liao, mah, ma, meh – just various exclamations/extraneous sounds after a sentence.
Lan - penis
Lau - a meaningless word that is a euphemism for lan penis
Lao sai - boss
Meimei – young girl, usually to refer to a WG
Naber Jio me de -
Naber, neber - never
Nasi Lemak/NL - Native Malaysian
Phua Chu Kang -
Por lam par -
Por lan pa kia -
Prata – Indian/muslim
Shiok - filling with desire, attractive; attractive, pleasing;
Sian - Bored, fed-up, tired.
Siat - exclamation used as a suffix for emphasis
Siat suay – VERY unlucky/jinxed
Sibei -
Si-pek -
Si pek tulan -
Suan - Berate, criticize, insult, mock.
Suay - Unlucky, unfortunate, jinxed.
Ta pau – take-out order, like in food AND taking out a WG
Tahan - Endure, hold out, stand it
Taikor – big brother, addressing someone with respect
Talk cock – bull shit
Tekan - press, push hard; force, control, Pressure put on someone, Bullying, ill-treatment
Tio lagi – Win again – but actually a sardonic expression as it means winning an unpleasant task again.
Tio lu tio lor – unlucky all over
Tiongkok – People’s Republic of China
Tolong - help
Tong Zhi – comrade, friend
Towkay – Chief, Big boss
Tuang - pour out, empty out a liquid; Play truant
Tudi -
Unkat – raise up, pick up
Walau - oneself, own, my, me; self
Wayang – Malay Puppet, to pretend
Yanda – Strike hard/yellow cleansing campaign in the PRC
Zhu geliang -
Thanks y'all!!
SEAN