The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added several terms from Singapore and Malaysia in its March update. The additions include the exclamation “alamak” and multiple food-related terms.
“Alamak,” a Malay word first recorded in 1952, is defined as an exclamation expressing surprise, shock, dismay or outrage.
“Tapau,” meaning to pack up food to take away, also entered the dictionary.
The word “terror” was added with its Singaporean and Malaysian English meaning. It can mean terrible or awful, but also serves as a term of approval meaning admirable or excellent. The OED notes “terror” often appears in phrases like “Wah! So terror lah.”
Words from other countries were also included. South Africa contributed “Yoh!” – an exclamation for emotions including surprise and admiration. From the Philippines, “gigil” describes the intense feeling when seeing something cute, creating an urge to squeeze whatever is adorable.
Several food terms gained recognition, including “nasi lemak,” “ketupat” (rice cake boiled in woven palm leaves), and “otak-otak” (ground fish mixed with spices and coconut milk, wrapped in leaves and cooked). Singapore’s “kaya toast” and “half-boiled egg” breakfast items were added, along with “fish head curry” and “steamboat.”
This isn’t the first time Singaporean words appeared in the OED. In 2016, the dictionary added 19 “Singapore English” terms including “blur,” “ang moh,” and “shiok.” On February 11, 2015, “kiasu” was selected as the OED’s Word of the Day.
The complete list of English words from Malaysia and Singapore in this update:
- alamak
- fish head curry
- half-boiled egg
- kaya
- kaya toast
- ketupat
- mat rempit
- nasi lemak
- otak-otak
- steamboat
- tapau
- terror
