Tagged daily
particleexclamationfoodmamakdailyemotioninsultmoneyworkschoolfamilyfestivedrivinginternetregionalpeoplephrasecomplimentsuperstitionromancekampung
- Hek elehSlang expression used to show mild disbelief, eye-rolling annoyance, sarcasm, or dismissal—similar to saying "Yeah, right," "Oh, please," o…
- ho seh boHokkien greeting for 'how are you?'.
- hok alohIt translates roughly to "alahai", "aduhai", or English expressions of mild surprise, exasperation, disbelief, or annoyance like "oh man", …
- jalan-jalanMalay for strolling, going out, or travelling for fun.
- jambanMalay for toilet, especially an old-school squat one.
- jomMalay for 'let's go!', the universal invite. Also spelt jum.
- kacauTo disturb or annoy someone. 'Kacau daun' means butting in where you're not wanted.
- kacipBorak kacip or sembang kacip generally means yapping, talking nonsense, rambling, making disconnected or erratic conversation.
- kantoiCaught red-handed doing something you shouldn't.
- kautimCantonese for settled or sorted out. Also kau tim.
- kecohNoisy, making a fuss or commotion.
- kedaiMalay for shop, borrowed from Tamil 'kadai'.
- kelam-kabutChaotic, in a frantic rush.
- keluarMalay for go out, used for hanging out or going on a date.
- kenaMalay for 'get hit by', used for anything bad happening to you: kena scold, kena saman, kena cheat.
- kencingLiterally to pee, but slang for conning or fooling someone.
- kiasuHokkien for 'afraid to lose'. That competitive urge to grab the best, the most, or the first.
- kitorangCasual Malay for us or we, not including the listener. From 'kita orang'.
- kongsiTo share, from Hokkien.
- korangCasual Malay for you guys, from 'kau orang'.
- kow kowExtra strong or very, very much. Kopi kow kow is super thick coffee. Also spelt kaw kaw, kaw.
- kowpehHokkien slang for complaining non-stop. The full version is kow peh kow bu.
- lepakTo hang out and chill, doing nothing in particular.
- luHokkien for you, used casually in Manglish.
- macamMalay for like or similar to. 'Macam-macam' means all sorts.
- makanMalay for eat, or food. Used everywhere, in every language.
- makan anginLiterally 'eat wind'. Means going on a holiday or a relaxing trip.
- mo lei tauCantonese for nonsensical, absurd or random humour.
- nahHere, take it! Said while handing something over.
- ngamFits just right, or gets along well. From Cantonese. 'Ngam ngam' means just nice.