Many Singapore locals end their sentences with the word ‘lah’ and it completely threw me the first time I heard someone say it. What does ‘lah’ mean?
Since then, I’ve learned that ‘lah’ is part of a local dialect affectionately known as Singlish. It’s a mix of English, Malay, Cantonese and several other languages and it also includes American slang commonly found in TV and movies. Essentially, ‘lah’ is used to soften the force of a statement while also encouraging solidarity. It’s commonly used to modify a verb into a command, especially when the verb may seem impolite. But, conversely, ‘lah’ can also be used to emphasize power and express annoyance, when stressed.
A few examples:
- Okay, lah
- I dun have, lah
- No can do, lah
- Not my fault, lah
Recently I saw an advertisement posted near a bus stop shelter including the word. Funny, lah?
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