This article is a continuation of the article Unique Malaysia: Common Slangs We Often Use & What They Mean published on Astro Ulagam yesterday.
We had a look at the most commonly used local slangs that most of us use on a daily basis. Here are the rest of the terms:
Mampus: Die, as in someone is not about to literally die, but get into irreparable trouble due to something they have done.
E.g: 'Man, I did not make it in my final term exams. Mampus lah'
Mat Salleh: Caucasian
E.g: 'Eh, have you met Lionel's Mat Salleh wife?'
Meletup: Used to describe something explosive, minus the actual fireworks
E.g: Waah, your new recording studio meletup lah'
On: This has nothing to do with switching something on and off. Instead, it means to agree on an activity.
E.g: Abu: 'Shall we go hiking this weekend?'
Rajan: 'On!!'
Otai: Short for old-timer, used to refer someone who's an expert in a certain field.
E.g: 'That uncle is an otai, don't play-play wei'
Payung: To help someone financially
E.g: 'No worries la, I payung your drinks' when a colleague/friend has left his/her wallet at home.
Pokai: Broke/have no money
E.g: 'I have to skip the outing tomorrow guys; pokai.'
Potong stim: Someone who spoils something nice/party popper
E.g: When someone reminds the next day is a working Monday in the midst of a fun-filled Sunday night outing 'You potong stim betul la!'
Poyo: Douchebag/a person who overreacts
E.g: 'Did you hear him speak? So poyo wei!'
Roger: Sometimes repeated twice, this means asking someone to stay in touch via phone calls
E.g: 'Ok I gerak (leave) first. Anything roger roger la.'
Relak la: To ask someone to calm down/relax
E.g: Babu: 'Aiyoo, I have not revised this topic la'
Ryan: 'Relak la, sure can do one!'
Sado: Buff/muscular man. Originating from the expression 'Besar doh'
E.g: 'Waah look at that dude. Sado!!'
Selamber: Laidback
E.g: 'Eh I see you really selamber je, not worried about the project dateline tomorrow ah?'
Syok oh: To express satisfaction
E.g: 'Syok oh eating ice cream in this hot weather.'
Syok sendiri: Self-absorbed person
E.g: 'Eeeh, cannot tahan his lagak (acts) ah. So syok sendiri case!'
Taiko: Literally means Big brother in Cantonese, but is often used to refer to someone who's an old-timer/expert in a certain field.
E.g: 'You shouldn't probably mess with him, he's a taiko'
Tapau: Take away, usually a food item
E.g: 'Boss, tapau chicken rice satu'
Wahlao: To express disbelief
E.g: Customer: 'Boss, how much is this toy ah?'
Shop owner: 'RM750'
Customer: 'Wahlao, soooo expensive!'
Where got?: To indicate denial to a false accusation/charge
E.g: Mum: 'Did you take money from my purse last night?'
Son: 'Huh, where got?'
Ya kah/Ya meh?: Are you sure?
E.g: Raymond: 'I heard Blackpink is coming to KL next month'
Natalie: 'Ya meh? I didn't see any update on their social media also?'
Yum cha: To have drinks with friends.
E.g: John: 'Eh, you free this evening ah? Jom yum cha?'
Ashwin: 'Jom!'
None of these terms will be complete without the most commonly used slang 'lah', meant to add emphasis to a word or phrase.
This is the specialty of living in multiracial Malaysia - we 'speak' many languages, without actually knowing the said languages. What other slang words do you think should be included in this list?
Source: shopback.my
Photo source: sou.syok, istockphoto.com, kreatifmarket.my
Shuman
Mon Oct 23 2023
![Unique Malaysia: More Common Slangs That We Love to Use Unique Malaysia: More Common Slangs That We Love to Use](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3avoj45mekucs.cloudfront.net/ulagam/media/2017/cincai-slang.jpg?ext=.jpg)