Singlish and Etymology

Question 1

Étymologie de Bras Basah

Answer 1

«Wet rice» in Malay as people where drying rice along the Bras Basah River

Question 2

Ang mo

Answer 2

Hokkien for “red-haired” used a historically pejorative name for white ppl in SIN and Taiwan, originally targeting the Dutch in Taiwan

Question 3

Redneck in Singlish

Answer 3

Ah beng: young, unsophisticated, part of secret societies or gangs, wear loud fashion

Question 4

Etymology of Geylang

Answer 4

Could be a deformation of Kallang

Question 5

Etymology of Toa Payoh

Answer 5

Hokkien for large swamp (payoh) so like Paya Lebar!

Question 6

Ah long

Answer 6

Illegal loan sharks: they loan money to ppl who can’t borrow from institutions like big gamblers
(means sthg in Cantonese)

Question 7

Etymology of Ang Mo Kio

Answer 7

Red-haired man’s bridge

Question 8

Etymology of Dhoby Ghaut

Answer 8

Indian washermen (dhobies) cleaning clothes on the riverbank (ghat) for a nearby garrison

Question 9

ORD

Answer 9

Operationally Ready Date : date of end of national service. Figuratively means resigned and ready to leave a job

Question 10

Étymologie de Pasir Ris

Answer 10

Possiblement aussi sables blancs mais ris n’est pas égal à blanc

Question 11

Étymologie de Pasir Panjang

Answer 11

Long sands

Question 12

Etymology of Tanah Merah

Answer 12

Red land