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.
* 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:
kenna kana kanna
kena
→
Malay:
kena
Detailed etymology
definitions
verb
- (transitive) to get; to receive; to incur; to be hit by
- (auxiliary) got
- (intransitive) to get, incur, or be affected by something, especially implied to be unpleasant or nasty
But all that makes little difference to her real life: A working mum of three who drives an SUV, frets about whether she'll kena a parking ticket and fields phone calls from her hubby about who's going to pick up the kid from Kumon.
— 2013 June 18, May Seah. Today, "A TALE OF TWO ZOES". p.34
You better wear mask, if not later you kena COVID.
Sure kena hammer.
— 2012 July 4, Genevieve Loh. Today, "Multiple personalities". p.55
Who will conversely kena whack jialat-jialat (get trounced) for talking too much rubbish?
— 2011 October 29. Today, "THINGS TO DO". p.10
If you not careful around her, you for sure will kena.