Commonly found variants; note these may range from acceptable alternatives to non-standard forms or incorrect spellings*.
* Singlish is a largely spoken creole, and as such descriptivism (recording forms that reflect actual pronunciation in spoken language, or as appearing in the linguistic corpus) is more pertinent than strict prescriptivism. Nevertheless, the use of more standard forms (or for words originating in languages with Latin script, such as Malay, accurate to the original spelling) is recommended and encouraged.

also can:

har harh huh hah

* The diacritic ◌̃ represents a nasalized vowel.

[ SSS:

hã ]

ha

→

Hokkien:

哈

poj:

hâⁿ

+

English:

huh

expand for details Detailed etymology

definitions

interjection

  1. expression of confusion, curiosity, doubt etc.

    2. Hãr? Really got such thing meh?

    synonyms:

    eh ng mm
  2. expression used to communicate that the speaker has not heard or understood something properly, or to ask for clarification; 'come again?'; 'pardon?'

    3. Hah? What thing? Say again.

    synonyms:

    si mi
  3. expression of disappointment, displeasure, pleading, etc.

    4. Hã? Why leh? I thought today can slack one.

    synonyms:

    si mi
  4. (telephony) 'hello'; used to answer the phone

    5. Hã? Who this? Siang kha pager?


particle

  1. variant form of ah1

    2. synonyms:

    ah1
  2. used to express surprise, amusement, etc.

    3. Orhhhhh... Is liddat ha.

    synonyms:

    ah1

usage notes

Considered informal and slightly rude or direct when used to answer the phone.


* The nasal vowel is almost always unmarked by speakers, though it is very important to the pronunciation of the term. In a dipthong or tripthong, the recommended convention is to mark the final vowel, unless it is spelled using a repeated letter, in which case the first-occurring repeated letter is marked.

related:

paĩ seh siang kha tiang kha siang kha pager tiang kha pager pe meh

categories:

particles

entries starting with

'ha'