Singlish

Question 1

Makan

Answer 1

Eating

Question 2

Ang moh

Answer 2

Not local person

Question 3

Mee pok

Answer 3

บะหมี่เส้นแบน

Question 4

Chope

Answer 4

Reserve a seat or spot
(I’ll chope the table while you order the food)

Question 5

Atas

Answer 5

Fancy / Luxury
(That restaurant is so atas, it’s where all the celebrities go)

Question 6

Shiok

Answer 6

Great pleasure or satisfaction
(This laksa is so shiok)

Question 7

Yala

Answer 7

Yes of course, definitely

• A: “Is the food here good?”
• B: “Yala, it’s the best in town!”

Question 8

Kopi

Answer 8

Coffee with condensed milk

Question 9

Alamak

Answer 9

Surprise / dismay
(Alamak, I forgot my keys)

Question 10

Lah

Answer 10

Often indicating assurance
(Don’t worry lah, everything will be fine)

Question 11

Lor

Answer 11

Indicate resignation or acceptance, similar to “so”
(If you don’t want to go, then don’t lor)

Question 12

Paiseh

Answer 12

Embarrassed or shy
(I feel paiseh to ask for help)

Question 13

Kiasu

Answer 13

Fear of missing out or being overly competitive
(He’s very kiasu, always trying to be the first in line)

Question 14

Sabo

Answer 14

To sabotage or trick someone.
(Don’t sabo me, okay?)

Question 15

Blur

Answer 15

Confused / not aware of what’s going on
(She looked so blur when they asked her a question)

Question 16

Catch no ball

Answer 16

Not understanding something.
(I catch no ball when he explains in technical terms)

Question 17

Sian

Answer 17

Bored or fed up
(So sian, nothing to do today)

Question 18

Kaypoh

Answer 18

Nosy, likes to pry into others’ affairs
(Stop being so kaypoh, it’s none of your business!)

Question 19

Siao

Answer 19

Crazy / insane
(Are you siao? It’s too dangerous!)

Question 20

Tahan

Answer 20

To endure or tolerate
(I cannot tahan the heat)

Question 21

Siam

Answer 21

To avoid or get out of the way
(Better siam, the boss is in a bad mood today)

Question 22

Kopi O

Answer 22

Black coffee with sugar

Question 23

Kopi O Kosong

Answer 23

Black coffee without sugar

Question 24

Kopi C

Answer 24

Coffee with evaporated milk and sugar

Question 25

Kopi C Kosong

Answer 25

Coffee with evaporated milk, no sugar

Question 26

Kopi Gao

Answer 26

Strong coffee

Question 27

Teh

Answer 27

Tea with condensed milk

Question 28

Teh O

Answer 28

Black tea with sugar

Question 29

Teh C

Answer 29

Tea with evaporated milk and sugar

Question 30

Michale Jackson

Answer 30

Soy milk mixed with grass jelly

Question 31

Ya sia

Answer 31

Convey agreement / emphasize a point, often with a tone of disbelief or amazement.

• A: That new shop is really good.
• B: Ya sia, the food is amazing!

Question 32

Ok leh

Answer 32

It’s actually quite okay

Question 33

Ok ah?

Answer 33

Is this okay?

Question 34

Ok lah

Answer 34

It’s okay

Question 35

Ok lor

Answer 35

I’m okay with anything, you decide

Question 36

Ok meh?

Answer 36

I doubtful, is this really okay?

Question 37

Dabao

Answer 37

Takeaway

Question 38

Kena

Answer 38

Got (in negative meaning)
(You will kena fine)

Question 39

Kaki

Answer 39

Buddy
(Ex. lunch Kaki, golf Kaki)