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We always ignore the ones who adore us, and adore the ones who ignore us.

Sunday, September 07, 2008 ( 12:24 AM )

Singlish Dictionary...

AI PEE, AI CHEE, AI TUA LIAP NEE
Teochew saying which literally translates as ' Want cheap, want pretty, want big breasts!' It is used to describe someone who wants the earth, ie. someone with unrealistic or unreasonable desires or expectations.
“Singaporeans all very hard to please, one. They all ai pee, ai chee, ai tua liap nee.”

BUAY SAI
Hokkien for ‘cannot’ or ‘incapable’. Can be used in many forms.
1. “You want Ah Beng to help you with your maths? Buay sai! (“Impossible!” or “You can’t!”)
2. “You want Ah Beng to help you with your maths? He damn buay sai one!” (“He’s incapable!”)
3. “Ah Beng buay sai help you with your maths.” (Ah Beng cannot help you with your maths.”)

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

EX
Although sometimes used to describe one's former girl-friend/boyfriend/whatever, in current Singlish, 'ex' is more often a short form of 'expensive', and used to express incredulity, or in some cases, envy.
1. Wah lau, original DVDs a bit the ex one, man, better go JB and buy.
2. Julie very high-class one you don't know meh? She always dress very ex.

MAINTAIN
A Mat-ism, it is an exhortation to stay cool and steady. Like "relac''

MANYAK
(mahn-yah')
A common mispronunciation, usually by Chinese, of the Malay word 'banyak', which means 'a lot' or 'very'.
"Alamak, this place, ah, manyak Ah Beng, sial!" ("Oh dear, there are a lot of Bengs here!")

MAT SALLEH
Malay equivalent of "ang-mor". A phrase used to describe Caucasians, with a slight pejorative overtone. Some have suggested that it is a deliberate mispronunciation of "mad sailor". This conjecture cannot be confirmed, despite its obvious appeal.

SELL BACKSIDE
A classic example of Singlish hyperbole. While it literally alludes to prostituting oneself, it is used in conjunction with any instance when one has to contend with hardship.
1. "Die, today I kena fired. Tomorrow got no choice, must go Desker Road and sell backside oreddy."
2. "Heng ah! I today touch 4D. No need to go Geylang and sell backside anymore."

SIAL /SIAH (Contributed by Hagar)
From "sial", the Mat version of "Lah", which is often mispronounced by munjens to omit the "L" at the end. Usually used to emphasize admiration or conviction.
1. "That girl damn jude, sial..."
2. "Wah, your guitar damn good, siah..."

Credits: talkingcock.com