from mixed
Placed at the end of a sentence to describe what someone or something is like, or to stress that this is how it is.
Can one, why cannot?
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/lyow/from Hokkien
Marks that something is done, or that a situation has changed; roughly "already".
It's going to rain liao.
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/syah/from Malay
Sentence-ending particle for shock, surprise, exhaustion or exasperation. Also spelt "siah", "sial" or "siol".
For what sia?
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
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/ah/
Particle tagged onto questions and topics, or said when the answer has become obvious. Also spelt "ar" or "arh".
You coming for dinner tonight ah?
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/hor/from Hokkien
Particle asking the listener to agree, or to take note of what was just said.
Quite boring, hor?
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/mah/from Cantonese
Particle meaning the reason is obvious ("of course"); also turns a statement into a yes/no question. Also spelt "ma".
The plants all dying already. No one here to water them mah.
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/meh/from Cantonese
Question particle that shows doubt or disbelief, like "really?" or "are you sure?".
Really meh?
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/lor/from Cantonese
Particle of resignation: that's just how it is, or the answer is obvious. Also spelt "lorh" or "lo".
Train breakdown again, so I late lor.
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/leh/from Hokkien
Particle that softens a request, signals mild doubt, asks "what about...?", or flags something the listener should notice.
It's next week leh.
by Singlish Dictionary · 29 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)
/lah/from mixed
The classic sentence-ending particle. It sets the mood: softening, reassuring, insisting, showing impatience or brushing something off. Also spelt "la" or "lar".
Don't do it lah, it's not worth it.
by Singlish Dictionary · 28 September 2026 · adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)