Singaporean Identity: SINGLISH
English: The Singapore Edition
Singlish, as the name proposes, is Singaporean English. Blatantly, it is broken English. Though official campaigns have been launched to discourage the use of Singlish (e.g. The Speak Good English Campaign launched in April 2004), yet, Singlish is inevitably the most comfortable way Singaporean converse with each other -- it cannot be shaken off.
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Common Singlish Exclamations
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Lah
pronounced: 'laah'. a slang word that can be used at the end of almost any/every sentence (E.g. It's okay! Everything will be fine lah!)
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Leh
Used at the end of sentences for emphasis. (E.g. She earns $20,000 a month leh!)
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Lor
The equivalent of a shrug, a "what to do?" (E.g. If you can't have apples, eat oranges lor)
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Meh
Used as a indication of disbelief. (E.g. He really did it meh?)
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Hor
Used for emphasis in a questioning sense. (E.g. She's very pretty hor?)
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Shiok
pronounced: 'shee-oak' used to convey a feeling of enjoyment, happines (E.g. The air-conditioning here is very shiok!)
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Aiyo-yo
pronounced: 'aye-yo-yo' synonym: goodness! (to express suprise) (E.g. Aiyo-yo! The toilets are so dirty!)
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Liao
pronounced: 'lee-ah-ow' synonym: already (E.g. The noodle stall shifted to Bendeemer Road liao.
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Heng
The equivalent of "Phew!" (E.g. Heng ah, I got away just in time!)