from Tamil
Crispy fried flatbread; as slang, to flip-flop on a decision.
One prata kosong, one egg.
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Hokkien
Affordable home-style Chinese dishes cooked to order. Also spelt "tze char" or "zhi char".
Dinner zi char? Must order the cereal prawns.
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Hokkien
Economy rice: rice with your pick of dishes from the counter.
Cai png two veg one meat, how much ah?
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
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from Hokkien
Strong (for coffee or tea); or strongly flavoured. Also spelt "kau" or "gao".
Kopi gau, I need to stay awake.
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Hokkien
Iced (for drinks).
One teh peng, uncle.
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Cantonese
Less sweet (for drinks).
Kopi siew dai, thanks.
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Malay
Plain; with nothing added, such as no sugar or no milk.
Teh O kosong, thanks.
by Singlish Dictionary · 25 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from mixed
A traditional coffee shop with many food stalls.
Meet at the kopitiam downstairs.
by Singlish Dictionary · 24 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from Malay
Local-style coffee, made the traditional way.
Uncle, one kopi siew dai.
by Singlish Dictionary · 24 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
from mixed
Younger people seen as bruising easily, like strawberries, under hard work and pressure.
Ten minutes of OT and they quit? Strawberry generation.
by Singlish Dictionary · 24 October 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)