Singaporean words - pronounced differently to how it's spelt

[revhappy]

Anybody know when to use what:

Lah,
Leh,
Liao,
Lor,
Hor,
Mah,
Meh,
Sia,
Nia

[the lynx]

Lah = to emphasise the point expressed.

"Can I park my car here, just for one minute?"
"Cannot lah!"

Leh = to express doubt or unsure to the subject matter

"Didn't Ah Kau said that he will meet at us 10AM here?"
"Not sure leh. He'd better not think that it's 10PM!"

Liao = to indicate that the subject matter is at its final/end (nothing more to be discussed)

"Umm, I still think you gave me different quotation..."
"I already said liao, this is the price we have agreed!"

Lor = Used in agreement to the preceding opinion.

"Columbus thought that he would sail off the edge of the world after sailing through the Atlantic, but instead he found New World!"
"Then the world is not flat lor!"

Hor = Used as how the Westerner punctuate rhetoric questions with 'eh' or 'huh' or 'innit'

"See? Told you the world is round hor?"

Mah = Same purpose as 'lah' but the intention is to win argument or reiterate preceding opinion.

"Damn, I still cannot get that penny through that vending machine!"
"I told you already mah, only American quarters can go through vending machines in Singapore as 50-cent coins."

Meh = Used in questioning tone.

"I'm gonna go over there and score that chick's number."
"You sure meh? That Rambo bloke beside her looks like her boyfriend."

Sia = To express disappointment or dejection.

"Damn, it's raining sia!"

Nia = Same as 'only'

"I'm serious, that dude sells iPhone for only 200 dollars nia!"



Edited: To correct the historical fact about Columbus

[revhappy]

Lah = to emphasise the point expressed.

"Can I park my car here, just for one minute?"
"Cannot lah!"

Leh = to express doubt or unsure to the subject matter

"Didn't Ah Kau said that he will meet at us 10AM here?"
"Not sure leh. He'd better not think that it's 10PM!"

Liao = to indicate that the subject matter is at its final/end (nothing more to be discussed)

"Umm, I still think you gave me different quotation..."
"I already said liao, this is the price we have agreed!"

Lor = Used in agreement to the preceding opinion.

"Columbus thought that he would sail off the edge of the world after the Pacific, but instead he found New World!"
"Then the world is not flat lor!"

Hor = Used as how the Westerner punctuate rhetoric questions with 'eh' or 'huh' or 'innit'

"See? Told you the world is round hor?"

Mah = Same purpose as 'lah' but the intention is to win argument or reiterate preceding opinion.

"Damn, I still cannot get that penny through that vending machine!"
"I told you already mah, only American quarters can go through vending machines in Singapore as 50-cent coins."

Meh = Used in questioning tone.

"I'm gonna go over there and score that chick's number."
"You sure meh? That Rambo bloke beside her looks like her boyfriend."

Sia = To express disappointment or dejection.

"Damn, it's raining sia!"

Nia = Same as 'only'

"I'm serious, that dude sells iPhone for only 200 dollars nia!"

wow, didnt know there was so much of logic behind it. Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

Coxford Singlish Dictionary

[v4jr4]

I thought Singlish is Hokkian-ized?

[the lynx]

Here are more funny examples using our favourite word, 'cannot'...

Lah:
"C'mon bro, just this once, let me date your sister."
"I said cannot lah!"

Leh:
"Hey, you should really invest your life savings in my love potion business. I tell you, it will be a huge success!"
"Cannot leh... Not enough money."

Liao:
"Uncle, still got opening or not ah? I wanna register for cock fighting."
"Too late. Cannot liao."

Lor:
"Dude, I've told you before, you cannot date Snookie. She doesn't even know you exist!"
"(dejected) Then cannot lor."

Hor:
"Sigh, you're right, mate. I should have kept my 4-litre protein shake in my checked-in luggage instead. Now it's in customs bin!"
"Told ya cannot, hor?"

Mah:
"Aiyo, I've been given a ticket for parking in double line."
"I already told you cannot mah!"

Meh:
"Hey punk you're not supposed to smoke here!"
"Cannot meh?"

Sia:
"Hey try rebooting your Windows again. Maybe it will work this time."
"Still cannot sia."

Nia:
"Hey you shouldn't be spamming ICA with ridiculous PR applications and appeals. You just landed last month."
"So what? They can just say cannot nia."

Note: Yup, that was me being bored