Singlish is of course a unique blend of English and local (mostly) Hokkien, Malay and Tamil terms.
Certain English words or phrases have also acquired local meanings which differ from their original meanings. It's definately authentically Singaporean.
The following are a few examples :-
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Why you never bring come?
Why didn't you bring it?
This new lecturer whole day talk so cheem; I really catch no ball.
What this new lecturer says is always going over our heads.
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He take go already.
He has taken it with him.
Want to rain, want to rain, never rain.
It looked like it was going to rain, but it didn't.
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You very clever to arrow people ah, ownself never do.
Why don't you do it yourself, instead of passing the buck to others?
You don't anyhow say leh.
You mustn't say baseless things.
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AH BENG
An unsophisticated Chinese boy. Stereotypically, he speaks gutter hokkien and likes neon-coloured clothes, spiky, moussed hair and accessories such as handphones or pagers, all of which are conspicuously displayed.
He also likes to squat, even when a seat is available.
"Wah lao eh, why you so chao ah beng one?" (Goodness, why are you such an ah beng?)
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AH LIAN
A pet-name which literally means, "lotus flower". The female equivalent of an Ah Beng - an unsophisticated Chinese girl. Stereotypically dresses in neon colours, wears a huge ribbon perched on the top of her head,
and carries a tiny basket.
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AH SENG
Ah Beng's sidekick. Also a generic pejorative term used to denote 'anybody'.
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ACT BLUR
To play innocent. I know you know who did it, so don’t act blur!
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B.G.R.
Acronym for “Boy Girl Relationship”.
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HA?
Super contraction of "Could you please repeat that again?" The equivalent of "What?"
Ah Lien: "Eh Beng, my period two months didn't come oreddy, maybe got baby...how?"
Ah Beng: "Ha? Talk after football game can or not?"
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LAH
The ubiquitous Singlish tag. Used like a fullstop in a sentence.
It was just like that, lah.
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ONE
Yet another Singlish tag, similar in use to "lah", but which almost always follow a word which is some sort of attribute. This probably stems from words such as "de" in Mandarin and "eh" in Hokkien.
Why you so stupid one? It was just like that one, lah.
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CONFIRM
Used as an adjective, to convey emphasis.
Look at her, she confirm virgin one.
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CONFIRM AND GUARANTEE
A phrase that lends even more emphasis.
That guy damn hypocrite man.. got cute girl at the AGM, he confirm and guarantee dare not oppose her and stand up for his opinions.
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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!
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SALA PARKING
A rather witty Malay euphemism for incorrect underwear dressing by men.
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SEMEN
A very unfortunate common mispronunciation of “cement”.
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SEMEN MIXTURE
A very unfortunate mispronunciation of “cement mixer”.
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SEVEN MORNING EIGHT MORNING CRY FATHER CRY MOTHER
A literal translation of a hybrid phrase - qi zao ba zao (Mandarin for 'early in the morning') and kau peh kau bu (Hokkien for 'to bellyache'). It means to complain loudly first thing in the morning.
You ah, lost ten dollars only what! Don't seven morning, eight morning, cry father, cry mother and wake up the whole neighbourhood!
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SO HOW?
Economic term, used in the same manner as "So what now?
The show is oreddy sold out. So how?
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WHAT DONE?
Eternal question asked by waiters and waitresses at local restaurants when someone orders a steak.
Ah Beng: "I want a sirloin steak." Waitress: "What done you want? Lare? Menium? Weww done?"
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K.L.K.K.
Acronym for "kia lai kia ker" - Hokkien for "to walk about" or "stroll".
Eh, let's go Orchard Road and K.L.K.K.
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GOT EYE SEE NO TARZAN
A brilliant example of hand-me-down Singlish wordplay, this bizarre phrase is derived from the Mandarin proverb, you yan jian bu dao tai san: "to have eyes, but be unable to see the large mountain", meaning to be blind, ignorant or clueless.
The inclusion of 'Tarzan' is because Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous fictional ape man's name is transliterated as 'Tai San' in Mandarin. And over time, some local wits have morphed the Tarzan reference into his trademark jungle call.
Eh, you got eye see no tarzan! You know who that man is or not? He's our new principal! Don't play-play, okay!
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WAH LAN EH
Hokkien term which can be loosely translated as "Oh Penis". Probably the most common Singlish expression of all, it is used in much the same way as "oh my goodness", "wow", or "damn!", depending on the tone used, and the context. More polite variants include "Wah Lau" and "Wah Piang".
Wah lan eh! How can you do this sort of thing to me?
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LUM PAH PAH LAN / LPPL
A Hokkien term describing a person on whom a plan or action has backfired. Literally: "the testicles hitting the penis".
The rhythm of the phrase suggests a ricocheting action, a surprisingly elegant touch, in such a rude phrase. The anglicized phrase "bang balls" probably came from this.
He go and buy the puppy to impress his girlfriend, and instead it go and bite her. He damn lum pah pah lan now."
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BANG BALLS
Essentially the Anglicized version of the Hokkien phrase "Lum Pah Pah Lan".
Wah lan! When I heard I kena saman that time, I damn bang balls, drop on floor, bounce three times!
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SHOW HALF BALL
To describe a girl who is revealing substantial cleavage.
Check out Ah Lian today, man. Her dress is so low cut, she show half ball.
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L.C. / LOW CLASS
Meaning literally ‘low class’, but often used to express embarrassment, as if the upper crust were incapable of messing up.
Aiyoh, today hor, I ran for the taxi outside Hyatt Hotel and tripped on the tail of my brand new Donna Karan coat and lagi some more, my shopping spill all over the sidewalk... soooo L.C.!
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BORROW
For some reason, “to lend”.
Eh, can borrow me your book?
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SARONG PARTY GIRL / SPG
A pejorative term describing local girls who will only go out with Caucasians. The stereotypical “SPG”, as she is usually abbreviated, is extremely tan, and skimpily-dressed.
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TAKE YOU GO MARKET AND SELL
The classic Singapore threat to children. Works like a charm every time.
If you don'ch stop making noise, ah, I tomorrow take you go market and sell!
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TALK 3 TALK 4
From the Hokkien "Kong Sar Kong Si", to chitchat or indulge in idle talk.
Ah Lian: "An chua, call me for what?" Ah Soh: "Nothing lah, just talk 3 talk 4 only lor."
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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.
Ah Beng managed to pass the exam? Don’t talk cock!
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CAB
Not a taxi, but the acronym for "Chao Ah Beng".
Eh, don't go to Sparks lah. That place full of cabs one!
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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?
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N.A.T.O.
A local acronym standing for "No Action, Talk Only", which probably originated in the Army. Everyone is labelled this at some point in their career.
Aiyah, don't waste time with him, he damn NATO one.
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HALF PAST SIX
Describing something or someone as being half-baked or incompetent, the term is actually a male sexual reference.
Half past six is weak, but quarter past three or 9:45 is very strong!.
Wah piang eh, why your company so half past six one, this sort of easy thing also can cock-up.
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HAYWIRING ALL OVER THE SHOP
This phrase refers to a state of confusion and disorder throughout an organisation or place.
It is of course an army term and quite close in meaning to the American 'SNAFU' (Situation Normal, All ****** Up).
The theory is that it is a unique Singapore fusion of 2 terms, the American term HAYWIRING, which derives from the way an old fashioned hay- baling machine would jam if a bit of wire was accidentally fed in with the hay,
and the English term 'SHOP' which is not related to retail space, but refers to the main workspace in a factory, the' shop floor'.
Why you all like that? Small problem and you're haywiring all over the shop!
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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."
The norm is to stretch out the vowels according to how accommodating the speaker is willing to be.
This one you want to pay by installment, oso can. You only owe me $5. But if you want to give me $10 oooooso caaaan.
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