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:
pau tau pau tao pow tow pau thao bao tao
pau thau
简
繁
→
Min nan:
包头
包頭
poj:
pau-thâu
Detailed etymology
definitions
noun
- a man or boy (usually Sikh) who wears a turban
- a turban or other similar headdress
verb
- to wear a turban; to wrap one’s head in a turban
usage notes
Not inherently derogatory or demeaning; it is simply the Chinese word for a turban or having one’s head wrapped in a turban. However, it may still be construed or used as such in certain cases.