wah lau

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See also: wahlau

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Teochew and Hokkien. Ultimate origin uncertain: first element equivalent to Hokkien (óa, “my”) + lau, possibly from 老爸 (lāu-pē, “father”). Originated in the 1990s.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈwɑː ˌlaʊ/, [ˈwɑ˦˨ ˌlaʊ˨˧], [ˌwɑ̽ˈlaʊ˨˦˧]

Interjection

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wah lau

  1. (Singlish, Manglish) An exclamation of annoyance or exasperation.
    • 1992 February 22, soc.culture.asean[1] (Usenet):
      "Wah lau! You tekan him, ah? But he bigger than you, man!"
    • 2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene iv:
      Zion Mansion... Wah lau, wasn’t that built in the Qing Dynasty or something.

Derived terms

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