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mama

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:

mama

mamak

→

Malay:

mamak

expand for details Detailed etymology

definitions

noun

  1. a Tamil Muslim (usually male)

    2. Every afternoon my friends and I always looked forward to the mamak bread man who arrived on his motorcycle at 5pm on the dot. We would hear his bell ringing and run out to buy snacks.

    — 2016, Azmi Hussin. The Little Mamak. Clarity Publishing Sdn. Bhd.. ISBN: 9789671429709

    The first 'Mamaks' were immigrants from South India, and most especially Tamil Nadu, who opened shops in Malaysia, starting most plausibly on the island of Penang.

    — 2018, Eric Olmedo and Shamsul AB. "'Mamakization': Measuring Social Cohesion in Malaysian Iconic Eateries", in Who Decides?: Competing Narratives in Constructing Tastes, Consumption and Choice. Brill. ISBN: 9789004365247. p.200

  2. a stall, eatery, or restaurant selling Tamil Muslim and/or Malay cuisine

    3. ... a 'Mamak Stall' or a 'Mamak', as it is affectionally called, is an ubiquitous casual eatery, serving a localised version of Southern Indian food al fresco for a very affordable price.

    — 2018, Eric Olmedo and Shamsul AB. "'Mamakization': Measuring Social Cohesion in Malaysian Iconic Eateries", in Who Decides?: Competing Narratives in Constructing Tastes, Consumption and Choice. Brill. ISBN: 9789004365247. p.200

    synonyms:

    mamak stall
  3. someone who works at such an establishment
  4. (derogatory, dated) a Tamil person, or any person of Indian descent in general

adjective

  1. of or relating to Tamil Muslims, especially in terms of cuisine

    2. I have a real fondness for the mee mamak.

    — 2013 November 2, Kimberly Fong (quoting Laurence Lewelyn-Bowen). Today, "The Apartment’s Laurence Lewelyn-Bowen". p.28


usage notes

Originally used to refer to roadside stalls selling Tamil Muslim cuisine, but now extended to any restaurant or eatery.


related:

mamak stall mama shop makcik pakcik merah mee goreng mamak

categories:

cuisine

entries starting with

'mama'