0-9
A
- Abang
- Older brother; respectful address for men. (Always use this in restaurant by the way!!! It makes you sound local!)
Example: Thanks, abang, keep the change.
Read more
- Amoi
- Definition: pretty girls (Malay version of leng lui)
Example: dont be shy, go talk to that amoi lah.
- Atas
- High-class, expensive, or snobbish. (I always use this to call my sister)
Example: Why so atas, eating salad only?
Read more
B
- Banana
- Definition: someone who grow up in Malaysia but is only proficient in English (like me)
Example: He’s banana cannot even speak Chinese and Malay lol
- Belanja
- To treat someone to food or drinks.
Example: Pass exam already, must belanja coffee!
- Bojio
- Didn’t invite; calling out left-out plans. (playful word, DOES NOT MEAN BULLYING)
Example: Go lunch without me, bojio!
- Boss / Bossku
- Endearing address for shop owners or peers. (Boss+Abang: 100% local malaysian)
Example: Satu teh tarik, boss!
C
- Chop / Chup
- Reserving a seat with a small object like tissue. (Doesn’t always work in busy place lolll)
Example: Use tissue packet to chop table first.
- Chun
- Perfect, precise, or well-executed.
Example: This timing very chun, just nice.
- Cincai
- Casual, flexible, or “anything goes.” (more people say ‘whatever’)
Example: Anything also can eat, cincai lah.
D
E
F
G
- Gabra
- Panicked, flustered, or nervous.
Example: Don’t gabra, just read the slides.
- Gostan
- To reverse a vehicle. (lots of Malaysians don’t know what reverse mean!!!)
Example: Wrong turning, gostan back!
H
I
J
- Jom
- “Let’s go!” (when your friends are being lazy)
Example: Jom, move out now.
K
- Kaki
- A close buddy or regular activity partner. (DOES NOT MEAN FRIENDS!!)
Example: He’s my badminton kaki.
- Kantoi
- Busted or caught red-handed. (mostly used by kids and students)
Example: Cheating in test, kantoi by teacher!
- Kepochi
- A nosey busybody. (often use as funny reminder)
Example: Don’t be so kepochi about her business.
- Kiasu
- Extreme fear of missing out or losing. (super exaggeration)
Example: Queue up since 4 AM, so kiasu.
L
- Lah
- THE SYMBOL OF MALAYSIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sentence-final particle for emphasis or reassurance.
Can lah, don’t worry.
- Leng Lui
- Pretty girl; casual address for young women. (less sarcastic than leng zai)
Example: Ask that leng lui for directions.
- Leng Zai
- Handsome boy; casual address for young men. (sometimes purely sarcastic lol)
Example: Wah, leng zai, dressed up so smart today!
M
- Mamak
- 24/7 Indian-Muslim eateries and social hubs. (every Malaysian go there when they are indecisive about what to eat)
Example: Tonight meet at mamak for supper.
N
O
- One
- No meaning but used at the end of every sentence. (no one literally knows why all the old people use that)
Example: Boy ah, this lego ah ahma bought u one for your birthday)
P
- Paiseh
- Shy, embarrassed, or awkwardly sorry.
Example: So paiseh to ask for help again.
- Pokai
- Completely broke or out of money. (also mean being done for)
Example: End of the month, totally pokai.
- Potong Stim
- A buzzkill; ruining a good mood.
Example: Rain started during barbecue, super potong stim.
Q
R
S
- Sap Sap Sui
- A piece of cake; super easy task. (the reality is often the opposite)
Example: Fixing this bug is sap sap sui.
- Sien
- Bored, tired, or mentally drained. (directly from mandarin)
Example: Stuck in traffic jam, so sien.
- Steady
- Reliable, calm, or agreeing smoothly. (not what steady means in proper English)
Example: He solved it quickly, steady lah!
- Syok Sendiri
- Delusional, self-absorbed, or full of oneself. (often used for often not seriously ‘delusional’)
Example: Nobody laughed at his joke, so syok sendiri.
T
- Tapau
- Ordering takeout food to go. (no one says to-go in Malaysia)
Example: Two packets chicken rice, tapau.
U
V
W
- Walao / Walao Eh
- Exclamation of shock or disbelief. (use it instead of the f word)
Example: Walao eh, so expensive!
- Wayang
- Putting on a fake show or theatrical performance.
Example: He pretend to work hard only, pure wayang.
X
Y
- Yam Seng
- Loud, prolonged toast shouted at celebrations.
Example: Raise your glasses, yam seng!
Z
Please read this!!!!
Welcome to our Kitablog!! Before we get started, let me introduce you to the website and the blog! …
August 13, 2026