From Hokkien

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  1. kopi OBlack coffee with sugar, no milk. Kopi O kosong means no sugar either.Hokkien, Malay
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  2. kopi pengIced coffee with milk. 'Peng' is Hokkien for ice.Hokkien, Malay
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  3. kopitiamA traditional Chinese coffee shop with marble tables, kaya toast and old-school drinks.Hokkien, Malay
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  4. kow kowExtra strong or very, very much. Kopi kow kow is super thick coffee. Also spelt kaw kaw, kaw.Hokkien, Cantonese
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  5. kowpehHokkien slang for complaining non-stop. The full version is kow peh kow bu.Hokkien
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  6. lahThe king of Manglish particles. Tacked onto the end of a sentence to soften it, stress it, or just make it sound Malaysian. Also spelt la, …Malay, Hokkien
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  7. lansiHokkien for arrogant or show-off. Also spelt lan si.Hokkien
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  8. lehAdds a soft, slightly pleading or tentative tone, or gently pushes back on something.Hokkien, Cantonese
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  9. liaoFrom Hokkien, meaning 'already', or that something is finished or done for.Hokkien
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  10. lorShows resignation or that something is obvious, like 'well, that's how it is'. Also spelt loh.Cantonese, Hokkien
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  11. luHokkien for you, used casually in Manglish.Hokkien
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  12. luiHokkien for money. Also spelt luit.Hokkien
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  13. mahMeans 'it's obvious lah' and is used when giving a reason that should have been clear. Also spelt ma.Cantonese, Hokkien
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  14. niaMeans 'only' or 'just', usually to downplay something.Hokkien, Cantonese
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  15. ongHokkien for lucky or prosperous, especially numbers, houses or places.Hokkien
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  16. pai kiaHokkien for a gangster or bad boy.Hokkien
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  17. paisehHokkien for embarrassed or shy, also used as a casual 'sorry'. Also spelt paisey.Hokkien
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  18. siaoHokkien for crazy.Hokkien
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  19. sienBored, fed up or weary of something. From Hokkien. Also spelt sian.Hokkien
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  20. songHokkien for happy, satisfied, feels good.Hokkien
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  21. suiCantonese/Hokkien for unlucky or lousy (also spelt suay). Careful: Hokkien 'sui' can also mean pretty!Cantonese, Hokkien
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  22. taikoA gang leader or the big boss of a group.Hokkien
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  23. taukeThe boss or business owner, from Hokkien. Also spelt towkay, taukeh.Hokkien
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  24. teh OBlack tea with sugar, no milk.Hokkien, Malay
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  25. teh pengIced milk tea. At a mamak, ask for 'teh ais' and you get the same thing.Hokkien, Malay
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  26. waHokkien for I or me, popular in Manglish. Also spelt gua.Hokkien
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  27. wah piangHokkien exclamation of shock or frustration, a close cousin of walao. Also wah piang eh.Hokkien
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  28. walaoHokkien exclamation of disbelief or annoyance, like 'oh my god'. Also spelt wah lau, walao eh.Hokkien
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