redirected from

la

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:

la laa lar larh

lah 1

/lɑː*/

→

Min nan / cantonese:

啦

poj/poj / jyutping:

--la/--lah / laa1

+

Malay:

lah

expand for details Detailed etymology

definitions

particle

  1. used to point out that something is obvious or self-evident

    2. 'What are you now, Dad?'
    'Now? Hungry lah ...'

    — 2015, Beth Yahp. Eat First, Talk Later. Random House Australia. ISBN: 9780857986863. p.4

    synonyms:

    lor
  2. used to emphasize the mood or emotion conveyed by the speaker; used as an intensifier

    3. "What nonsense, lah! You should have demanded the room!" Harry Leong fumed. "You are always too polite—these service people need to be put in their place ..."

    — 2013, Kevin Kwan. Crazy Rich Asians. Allen & Unwin. ISBN: 9781743317280

    synonyms:

    sia
  3. used to impart a reassuring tone

    4. I just do whatever I have to do each day — be joyful, be purposeful and live each day to the fullest. Don't worry lah, be happy.

    — 2016 March 31, May Seah (quoting Belinda Lee). Today, "What’s up, doc?". p.68

  4. used to indicate dismissiveness, cynicism, skepticism, or disdain

    5. That has helped promote a culture of acceptance whereas in Singapore, it's like 'Aiyah, that person in a wheelchair will never grow up to be anything lah' ...

    — 2017 March 1, Eveline Gan (quoting Joseph Heng). Today, "Deaf doctor ready to lend an ear to patients". p.29

  5. used to soften an imperative, so that it is more of a request, suggestion, persuasion, or plea

    6. Tolong lah ... I no mood today.

    synonyms:

    ba
  6. used after a statement of fact or assertion to affirm its authoritativeness or the speaker's confidence in its truthfulness

    7. Oil refining business is not the dream goal for Jazzy lah, but if he's a manager and all, maybe he's quite power.

    — 2016 August 16, Joy Fang (quoting Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan). Today, "Dissecting the Sarong Party Girl". p.32

  7. used to indicate a confident speculation

    8. I don't think they made it like that on purpose.
    → I don't think they made it like that on purpose lah.

    synonyms:

    ba
  8. used to mark an inexhaustive listing or enumeration

    9. Food shiok lah ... Fun places to see lah ... Everything see must buy lah ...

    — 2004, Brian Bell. Singapore. APA. ISBN: 9789814137577. p.41

    synonyms:

    ah1
  9. used after certain other particles (e.g. no, ya, can) to colloquialize them

    10. No lah, Aunty. A mother's job is never done.

    — 2020, Sumit Agarwal, Swee Hoon Ang, and Tien Foo Sing. Kiasunomics 2: Economic Insights For Everyday Life. World Scientific Publishing Company. ISBN: 9789811217111. p.67

  10. used to indicate sarcasm

    11. Ya lah, I just now purposely kup you one lah. Not like today I very busy at work right?

  11. (rising tone) used to indicate or emphasize incredulity, doubt, unsureness, disbelief, etc.

    12. Cannot be they all don't know.
    → Cannot be they all don't know la.

    synonyms:

    ba

usage notes

All senses are sentence- or clause-final. It is not uncommon for a use to be a mixture of more than one of these senses.
'Lah' is a particle which is a fundamental part of the preceding sentence or clause. Furthermore, there is almost never an arbitrary pause between 'lah' and the preceding word. Thus, the convention of putting a comma between the sentence or clause and 'lah', as is seen in many English texts that attempt to quote Singlish speakers, is grammatically inaccurate and not recommended. This applies for all other Singlish particles.


related:

leh lor1 sia all la la ma

categories:

particles

la 2

→

Hokkien:

抐

poj:

lā

expand for details Detailed etymology

definitions

verb

  1. (literal) to stir
  2. (figurative) to sit around with a drink, idling or doing some activity or social interaction

    3. Hope I can attend U guys la kopi la coke la teh si la milo dinosaur session!

    — 2011 May 11, Guest kepiting1sg. SGMerc, "La Kopi + Dim Sum + TCSS Part 5". https://www.sgmerc.com/topic/5985-la-kopi-dim-sum-tcss-part-5/


related:

cucuk kopi la kopi la sai la teh lim lim kopi lim teh teh

categories:

drinks

entries starting with

'la'