powderful

English

Etymology

From a mispronunciation of powerful.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): [ˈpaʊ˧.də.fu˦]

Adjective

powderful (comparative more powderful, superlative most powderful)

1. (Singapore, humorous, of one's language skill, now uncommon) Skilful; fluent; good.
   • 2016 May 13, Heather Chen, “'Chinese helicopter': Singlish OED entry baffles Singaporeans”, in BBC News‎^[1]:

     When someone uses bad English, a normal speaker would reply sarcastically: "Wow, your English is so powerful".
     But a true Singlish speaker would retaliate: "Wah, your England very powderful ah?"

2. (Singapore, humorous, in general, now uncommon) Pronunciation spelling of powerful.