huat ah

English

Etymology

From Min Nan 發啊 (hoat-ah), from 發／发 (hoat, “to produce, to grow, to develop, to prosper, to pay out”) +‎ 啊 (ah, “particle of exclamation”).

Pronunciation

• (Singapore, Malaysia) IPA^(key): /ˈhwʌt ɑː/

Interjection

huat ah

1. (Singapore, Malaysia, informal) A traditional, festive expression used to wish oneself prosperity.
   • 2012 December 24, Albert Tay, “Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore”, in wordpress.com‎^[1], retrieved 2016-04-01:

     For some strange reasons, some people are shouting "Huat ah" as they toss paper money in the air.

   • 2014, Jane Lai, “Yusheng designs”, in pinterest.com‎^[2], retrieved 2016-04-01:

     Huat ah! The pronunciation of "eight" in Hokkien (Chinese dialect) sounds similar to "Prosperity". Good luck and may you win the lottery!

   • 2015, Yongnian Zheng and Liang Fook Lye, Singapore-China Relations, page 224:

     The lo hei dish eaten by Singaporeans to herald the Chinese New Year with shouts of "Huat ah!” festive greetings exemplifies a Chinese cuisine with local Singaporean identity.

Verb

huat ah

1. (Singapore, Malaysia, informal, intransitive) To prosper.
   • 2008 December 31, babychloe, “TTCing2009/2010 babies grads”, in singaporemotherhood.com‎^[3], retrieved 2016-04-01:

     This new year, all of us will huat ah!

   • 2010 December 27, Jaymeetan, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all”, in wordpress.com‎^[4], retrieved 2016-04-02:

     And, I wish everyone a Happy New Year for the upcoming new year. Let's Huat ah!!

   • 2016 January 11, Joyce Yang, “12 New Stunning Looks Based On Your Zodiac to HUAT AH This Chinese New Year”, in thesmartlocal.com‎^[5], retrieved 2016-04-02:

     12 New Stunning Looks Based On Your Zodiac to HUAT AH This Chinese New Year

Usage notes

A customary expression used when tossing yusheng during Chinese New Year.