Quiet is my loudest cry.

Some of my favourite extracts from The Coxford Singlish Dictionary:

ALL FART AND NO SHIT
Used to describe someone who's full of empty promises.
"Ah, shaddup lah. Everyday say you wan' to treat me go lunch. You all fart and no shit only."

ANONEH
A Japanese expression similar to "Well..." or "If that's the case...", in Singlish this has come to be a generic term for any Japanese girl.
1. "Wah lau, see that anoneh! Her dressing damn solid one."
2. "I got some char bor friends in Pasir Ris, they are all anoneh working for airline one."

BECAUSE THE SKY IS SO HIGH, THE BIRD SHIT IN YOUR EYE
This phrase is essentially an annoyed retort to being asked "why", and conveys the meaning that the questioner ought to mind his or her own business. Popular in the mid-70's, its usage began to decline in the early 80's and is rarely heard these days.
Sally: " Eh, Jasmine, how come I never see you with Roger anymore?"
Jasmine: " We oreddy break up, lah!"
Sally: " Why?"
Jasmine: " Because the sky is so high, the bird shit in your eye!"

BORROW
For some reason, “to lend”.
“Eh, can borrow me your book?”

CARE-LAIR-FAIR (omg I thought it was a real English word)
Cantonese for "movie extra", it is also used to describe people as idle hangers-on or layabouts. It is suspected that the term was derived from somewhere else. Can also be used as a verb, as in "to care-lair-fair".
"Eh, next week my company is holding a product launch for TV. If got time, come and care-lair-fair, lah."

CHAMPION (I love this word)
A term describing the unbelievable actions of a person. Usually used in a derogatory manner.
Ah Beng : "Wah lau! You never hear! Ah Seng is in hospital! His finger kena bitten off by his hamster!"
Ah Meng: "Serious ah? He damn champion, man!"

CHER
Not to be confused with the surgically-enhanced American singer, this is just a short and snappy way to address one's teacher.
"Eskew me, Cher, can I go toilet?"

CHIBABOOM
Quintessential Singaporean sound effect for an explosion.
"Then ah, the bomb essploded... CHIBABOOM!"

CHOPE
To reserve or hold something for somebody. Sometimes used in games to denote having attained a ‘safe' position.
"If we're not at the theatre by 8, can you chope some seats for us?"

COCK
Despite seemingly obscene connotations, the use of "cock is actually fairly benign. It has become the de facto Singlish way to describe something as being nonsensical or sub-standard; the local equivalent of "rubbish" or "junk". Sometimes used as the short form of "cockanaden".
1. "Don't listen to him, he's only talking cock."
2. "Wah lau, you go and buy this cock thing for what?"
3. "Why you so cock, go and invest in that dot-com?"

CONFIRM PLUS GUARANTEE/CONFIRM PLUS GUARANTEE TIMES 2, WITH 3 YEAR WARRANTY
Variations of Confirm and Guarantee.
"Oi, you returning that VCD or not?"
"Aiyah, of course lah! Confirm plus guarantee times 2, with 3-year warranty!"

EXTRA
An adjective usually applied to people who do things which are unnecessary or pointless.
1. " Eh, Johnny! Recess already you still want to do homework! You si peh extra, you know!"
2. "This sort of simple thing don't make until so complicated, can or not? Why you so extra one?"

GIVE CHANCE
Singlish expression for "to be fair, generous, or to give a fighting chance".
1. "Our goalie not here yet, so give chance, can or not?"
2. "That guy always kena whack, they never give chance to him one."

GO FLY KITE
Derived from the English admonition "go fly a kite!" which means "piss off", "buzz off", etc, depending on your level of profanity-tolerance. Of course, we economical Singaporeans have removed the extraneous indefinite article.
"He know I so busy, still ask me to do things. Ask him go fly kite, lah!"

GONE CASE
Someone or something beyond help. A lost cause.
1. "We tried to help, but he oreddy gone case."
2. "If you continue like this, you sure gone case."

GOT
Denoting availability of something.
Beng: "Got milk or not?"
Seng: "Got!"

GRANDFUDDER ROAD
"Your grandfather's road". A belligerent expression aimed at road hogs. Similar to the English expression, "Do you own the road?""Wah lau, drive so slow! Your grandfudder road, is it?"

HERO
Has the same meaning as in English, but often connotes either a foolhardy person or someone out to grab attention.
1. "Just pass, can oreddy. Why try and score A? You hero or what?"
2. "It's too dangerous. Don't try to be hero."

HOW CAN
In true Singaporean economical style, this is a contraction of "How can this be?" or "How can this be possible?" Originates from the Malay-Hokkien hybrid phrase, "Mana eh sai?"
"Ah Beng became a President's Scholar? How can?"

IS IT?
A phrase that's tagged on to virtually any question. It is also used on its own to express skepticism.
1. "You got mail, is it?" (You've received mail, have you?")
2. Beng: "I got accepted into Harvard."
Seng: "Is it?"

K.I.V. (My mom always uses this while shopping)
"Keep In View". An acronym from colonial bureaucracy to stand for items, documents or papers that should be kept around for later consideration. This label is found on trays, cabinets and shelves. Essentially used as a verb, in the sense of "to shelve" or "put on the backburner" or "to procrastinate".
1. "I'm busy now, can I KIV it and get back to you?"
2. "If in doubt, just KIV and think about it later."

KOPE
(as in 'cope')
To steal, usually something trifling. Similar in meaning to "stun".
“Wah, where you kope all this stuff from?”

LAI DAT
"Like that". Yet another Singlish tag.
1. "He look like a pig lai dat."
2. "Wah lau, I like damn tired lai dat."
3. Beng: "How are you?"
Seng: "Lai dat, lor."

LIKE REAL
The Singlish equivalent to "As if!" or "Yeah, right." An expression of incredulity and disbelief.
Beng: "Eh, I just got into Mensa."
Seng: "Like real!"

MACAM
Malay term of comparison, equivalent to "like" in English. When used in Singlish, it can seem redundant, but in fact adds emphasis.
1. "Wah piang, this dessert macam taste like shit."
2. "That bugger dress up until like that, macam look like come from outer space."

MUG/MUGGER/CHAO MUGGER/MUGGER TOAD
To "mug" in Singapore is to study by rote. A mugger is thus a hardworking student who memorises notes and regurgitates them during exams: the very essence of a typical kiasu student. Often prefixed with the word "chao" (smelly) in front of it for emphasis.
1. "He everytime go library until it close. Damn mugger, siah!"
2. " If I don't chao mug now, then later exam sure can die, one!"

NO SOUND NO PICTURE
A no-show.
"Eh, I thought he was supposed to be here an hour ago? You mean he still no sound no picture ah?"

NOT SAY I SAY WHAT
A very common way of prefacing a statement that could be controversial or sensitive. The English equivalent would be, "This might just be my own opinion, butÉ" or "I'm not sure, butÉ"
"Not say I say what ah, but Ah Lian's dressing is si beh obiang."

OFF
Economical verb meaning to turn or shut something off.
"Please off the light."

ON
Economical verb meaning to turn something on.
"Please on the light."

ONE KIND
Contraction of the phrase "one of a kind" - usually used pejoratively.
"Ah Seng this kind of friend, damn one kind one! Everytime go out he say no money, ask me pay first!"

OSO CAN
A crude pronunciation of the words "also can," and is usually found at the end of sentences. Means "this is okay with me," or "this can also be done."
"This one you want to pay by installment, oso can."

OWN TIME OWN TARGET/O.T.O.T.
Another Army-inherited term, meaning to perform a task at one's leisure, or using one's discretion.
1. Private: "Eh, Sergeant! Give how long to sio?" (Sergeant, how long is our cigarette break?"
Sergeant: "O.T.O.T."
2. "This assignment is not very urgent. You own time own target can oreddy."

OWNSELF
A word which denotes that a task has been performed through one's effort alone.
1. This painting you ownself do, ah?
2. Can you ownself buy the drinks? My hands already full, lah.
3. Eh! Can you ownself do your homework instead of copying from others?

PAIN
In true Singlish economy, "painful"
"Ow! Why you step on my foot? Damn pain, you know!"

REPEAT AGAIN
A commonly-used redundancy.
"I can't hear you. Can you repeat again?"

SABO
Singlish contraction of "sabotage". Used to cover instances of practical jokes and tricks to outright betrayal.
"You don'ch sabo me, I warn you, ah!"

SAHT
Of uncertain provenance, it’s the local equivalent of “cool” or “groovy”.
“You got tickets to the sold out concert? How come you so saht one?”

SAY FIRST
Used as an expression to lay down one’s ideas/thoughts/feelings/intentions before doing/saying something. Can also be used as a question in respect to the order of priority of things to be done.
1. “OK, say first, today after work go where and chiong?”
2. “Eh say first leh, you still lurf me or not?”

SCARED WHAT
An expression of bravado.
“Go to jail, go to jail, lor. Scared what?”

SCUSE
Short for "Excuse me". Used in place of the phrase "Get out of my way!" in a vague attempt to be polite.

SEE HOW
To leave the matter alone and watch how it develops. Often repeated for emphasis.
"I oreddy submitted the application form. So now just see how, see how, lor."

SIAN
A wonderfully concise Hokkien adjective which conveys boredom, weariness, frustration and emptiness. The English equivalent would be "ennui".
1. “My job is damn sian, man.”
2. “Wah lau eh, I do A-maths, do until sian oreddy.”

SO HOW?
Economic term, used in the same manner as "So what now?"
"The show is oreddy sold out. So how?"

SOLID
An adjective describing something or someone as being very impressive.
1. “Did you see her performance? Solid, man!”
2. “Diana Ser is damn solid, man!”

SORRY NO CURE
Singlish phrase used to express indignation at an inadequate attempt at an apology
Ah Kok: "Why you potong jalan my girlfriend?"
Ah Beng: "Ai yah, sorry lah!"
Ah Kok: "Sorry no cure! Ai tio hoot?"

SPOIL MARKET
A term used to describe someone who does his work so well, he makes his colleagues look bad.
“Check out how Ah Seng's report! Got leather binding and colour transparencies! He damn spoil market one.”

STANDARD
Used to denote quality or skill.
"Wah lan, this prata so cold, damn no standard. Eat oreddy also not shiok."

STEADY POM PEE PEE (omg my favourite word of all time)
An extension of "steady", this is an adjective describing someone's prowess or sang froid, i.e. ability to remain cool under pressure.
"Wah! Matthew's MCQ is steady pom pee pee one, leh! He no need to study also can get full marks."

STER (haha cockster)
An army suffix, attached to verbs to describe their perpetrators, e.g. someone who ‘kengs’ (malingers) is a ‘kengster’, while someone who ‘tuangs’ (skives) is a ‘tuangster’. A lesser form than ‘king’ as in ‘tuang king’ or ‘keng king’.
“Eh, all you kengsters! Don’t pretend-pretend you sick so you can stay back and tuang, ah!”

STONE
An adjective/verb conveying either a lack of any activity, a state of stupor or stunned bewilderment. While it may owe its origins to it, the local use of the term seems to lack any connection with hallucinogenic drug-use.
1. "The guy never do anything, one. So stone!"
2. "Eh, let's go Orchard, man. Don'ch stone!"
3. "Wah lau, the maths exam question so cheem one. I see only I stone."

SUAN
To ridicule or insult someone.
1. "Why you go and suan him like that? What has he ever done to you?"
2. "Wah lau, did you see? He kena suan in TalkingCock.com!"

SURE CAN ONE
Phrase used to bolster one's/someone else's confidence that something can be achieved.
"This thing so easy to do, sure can one."

TALK COCK/TALK COCK SING SONG
To speak rubbish or nonsense. Probably originates from the English phrase “cock and bull”. “Sing Song” is added for emphasis. “Talk Cock” by itself also has the more benign meaning of “casual banter” or “chatting”.
1. “Ah Beng managed to pass the exam? Don’t talk cock!”
2. “I met Johnny at the kopi tiam just now, and we were talking cock for a while.”

TIO
Hokkien exclamation whose closest English approximation is "got it!" or "correct!" Suggests hitting the target or achieving something, usually but not necessarily pleasant.
1. "Eh! I heard Ah Beng tio 4D, man!" ("Hey, I heard Ah Beng struck the lottery!")
2. "You wan' your flat to get upgraded, then you must vote gahmen, lah. Tio bo?" ("To get your flat upgraded, you must vote in the government. Is that correct?")
"Tio!" ("Correct!")
3. "Wah, Ah Beng yesterday tio from his OC, man!" ("Yesterday, Ah Beng got it from his officer in charge.")
4. "Why you listen to him? He's a damn boh tio sort of person!" ("Don't listen to him - he's the type who just doesn't get it.")
5. "I voted him because he's the most ooh tio of the lot." ("I voted him because of all the candidates, he's the one who gets it the most.")

TZAI
A compliment about one’s coolness.
“Ah Lian agreed to go out with him? Since when he so tzai one?”

VERY THE
Singlish phrase meaning, inexplicably, 'very'. Usually employed with a clearly sarcastic tone.
1. "Wah lau eh, he ah, his armpit very the smelly, you know!"
2. "Piang eh, your skirt very the short, hor?"

VERY WHAT ONE
A phrase used to describe a quality so inexplicably irritating about something or someone. The Singlish version of the French phrase "je ne sais quoi".
"She, hor, very what one, you know?" (She has a certain je ne sais quoi.)

VOMIT BLOOD (PUKE MUCUS!)
Literal translation from the Hokkien phrase "tor hwee", which is used to describe undergoing extreme difficulty, intense suffering or great irritation. "Vomit" is often pronounced "womit".
Ah Beng: "Yesterday, hor, I teach my son Maths, teach until vomit blood."

WAKE UP YOUR IDEA
Singlish phrase, popular in the army, meaning, "get a clue" or "stop dreaming".
Sergeant: "Who say you can tuang like that, recruit? You better wake up your idea!"

WHACK
To approach something carelessly or eat something with relish.
1. “Eh, the seafood buffet here is quite solid. Whack all the prawns, man!”
2. "This is a serious job, okay, you cannot anyhow whack."

WHAT TALKING YOU?
Singlish for "What are you talking about?", it is a statement of incredulity or disbelief.
"Eh, Ah Beng where can pass 'A' Maths? What talking you?" (How can Ah Beng pass his 'A' Maths exams? What are you talking about?)

WHERE GOT
Pithy term expressing disbelief or sometimes, outrage.
1. Beng: "Seng, you took my wallet, right?"
Seng: "Where got?"
2. "He accused me of stealing his wallet. I ask you, where got like that?"
3. "A young man dying while in the prime of his life… Where got meaning?"

WON'T DIE
Singlish phrase used to reassure someone that something is not hazardous or troublesome. Derived from Hokkien, "buay si", with the same meaning, and directly translated into English.
"It's only an injection. Don't scared, won't die one" (The latter, in Hokkien, would be, "Meng kia, buay si eh.")

YOUR HEAD
Mild curse used to disabuse someone of his or her erroneous assumption.
1. Ah Beng: "You sure fail the test!"
Ah Seng: "Your head, lah!"
2. "She? Win Miss Universe? Your head, lah!"

09 May 2008 @ 2:28 PM

// The power of Singlish.