Grammar[edit]

Much of Manglish grammatical structure is taken from varieties of Chinese and the Malay language.
For example, the phrase "Why you so like that one?" means "Why are you behaving in that way" in
standard English. In Cantonese, a similar phrase would be rendered as "Dmgai nih gm ge?" or
literally "Why you like that?" The "one" in the sample phrase does not literally mean the numeral one,
instead it is used more as a suffix device. It is also sometimes rendered as "wan." [2] The use of
Manglish is discouraged at schools, where only Malaysian English is taught. [3]
Other common characteristics are anastrophe and omission of certain prepositions and articles. For
example, "I haven't seen you in a long time" becomes "Long time never seen you already".

Vocabulary[edit]

Words only used in British English[edit]

To a large extent, standard Malaysian English is descended from British English, largely due to the country's
colonisation by Britain beginning from the 18th century. But because of influence from American mass media,
particularly in the form of television programmes and movies, Malaysians are also usually familiar with many
American English words. For instance, both lift/elevator and lorry/truck are understood, although the British form is
preferred. Only in some very limited cases is the American English form more widespread, e.g. chips instead of
crisps, fries instead of chips.

Words or phrases only used in Malaysian English[edit]

Malaysian English is gradually forming its own vocabulary, these words come from a variety of influences. Typically,
for words or phrases that are based on other English words, the Malaysian English speaker may be unaware that the
word or phrase is not present in British or American English.

Malaysian

British / American

Handphone (often abbreviated to HP)

Mobile phone or Cell phone

Brinjal

Aubergine/Eggplant

KIV (keep in view)

Kept on file, held for further consideration

Outstation

Means both 'out of town' and/or 'overseas/abroad'.

Where got?

Various Meanings

MC (medical certificate). Often used in this context, e.g.

'He is on MC today'

Sick note

Love Letter. To receive a 'Love Letter' could mean to

receive a letter of reprimand or some official
notifications (usually negative and ironic in meaning).

No equivalent.

E.g. I received a 'Love Letter' from the bank about my

account.

Can

Yes/Alright/Able

Cannot

No/No, I can't/Unable

One hundred over, one thousand over etc.

Over one hundred, over one thousand etc.

Meh/Ke
An optional suffix usually used to donate a question
mark to yes, as in "yeah meh?" or "ye ke?" i.e. "Are you

No equivalent.

sure?", with the former being more commonly used

amongst those of Chinese descent and the latter by
Malays.

Mar
Mostly used as a suffix. Derived from Chinese, where
"ma" is grammatically correct. For instance, (mandarin)
"ni zhi dao ma?" would literally mean "Did you know?",
except that there is an extra word behind: ma. Another

No equivalent.

example, a person would say "I didn't know mar"; which

somewhat has the same meaning as "I didn't know la"
but is softer than "la". When the person says "I didn't
know mar", it indirectly states that the person is being
apologetic about not knowing something.

Ar
An optional suffix usually used to donate a question

No equivalent.

mark, as in "Sure ar?" or "Are you sure ar?", i.e. "Are

you sure?"

Lah/La/Lor
A popular suffix to phrases and sentences. Originates
from both Malay and Chinese where its usage is
grammatically correct, for instance, (Cantonese) "M hou
gam yeung la" would literally mean "Don't be like that",
except that there is an extra word at the end, "la".
Another example: "cannot, lah", i.e."Sorry that's not
possible." and "Rest some more-lah.", i.e. "Please rest
for a while longer,"; It is important to note that the tone
of which the prefx s spoken greatly affects the context of
the statement. Example, saying "Okay -lah" while
squinting one eye and hesitating the -lah, would be to

No equivalent.

give a mediocre opinion about something (as in "The

food was okay-lah"). Meanwhile, to say a short
increasing pitched -lah as in "Okay -lah. We'll all go to
Ipoh later", would be to agree about something. "Lah" is
also generally used to soften an otherwise angry/stern
tone, such as: "Stop it lah" as opposed to just an abrupt
"Stop it!", or "Don't be like that la" as opposed to "Don't
be like that". It is usually perceived as less insulting
when a "lah" is added in sentences such as those, and
typically means that the person uttering the sentence is
not angry, unless of course, it is said in a harsh tone.

Gostan
To reverse, especially in the context of driving motor
vehicles. A contraction of the term "go astern" (Mostly
used in states of Penang and Kelantan).

To reverse, to go backwards

Share Market

Stock Market

Different Meanings[edit]
This is a list of words and phrases that have one meaning in British English and another in Malaysian English

Word / Phrase

American / British meaning

Malaysian meaning

an indicator that the name following is a

nickname or alias, usually used by Chinese,
e.g. for Tan Siew Khoon @ Jimmy, his
nickname/alias is Jimmy. However, with the
@

short for 'at'

increased use of e-mail in recent years,

especially in urban and demographically
younger areas, the primary meaning of the
symbol is now the same as in
British/American English.

previously (often used instead of "used to",

last time

on the previous occurrence

for example: "Last time I was a manager"

when the meaning is "I used to be a
manager")

a historical copying machine using a camera

photostat

and photographic paper, which was

a photocopier; also used as a verb meaning

superseded by the photocopier.

"to photocopy"

See Photostat machine.

slang

informal spoken language, often unique to a

particular country or social group

accent, e.g. "I cannot understand your

slang", when the real meaning is "I cannot
understand your accent"

a letter of the alphabet, e.g. "The word

an alphabet

a set of letters used in a language

'table' has five alphabets." / "The Number is

1, The Alphabet is A"

bungalow

A small house or cottage usually having a

A mansion for the rich and/or famous; or a

single storey and sometimes an additional

attic story that is free standing, i.e. not
conjoined with another unit.

to go directly after e.g. "John is driving;

to follow

follow him", means go in your own car,

behind John's car

fully detached house, regardless of the

number of floors it has. Some housing
developers also use terms such as "semidetached bungalow".

to go with, accompany e.g. to go with John

in his car.

"There is"/"there are" and "has"/"have" are both expressed using got, so that sentences can be
translated in either way back into British / American English. This is equivalent to the Chinese yu
(to have):

Got question? Is there a question? / Do you have a question?

Yesterday ar, East Coast Park got so many people! There were so many people at East
Coast Park yesterday. / East Coast Park had so many people [there] yesterday.

This bus got air-con or not? Is there air-conditioning on this bus? / Does this bus have airconditioning?

Where got!? lit. Where is there [this]?, also more loosely, What are you talking about? or
Where did you get that idea?; generic response to any accusation. Derived from Malay sentence
"Mana ada"- 'Mana' (Where) 'ada' (got) and also from Chinese sentence " "-'
'(Where)''(got).

Can is used extensively as both a question particle and an answer particle. The negative is cannot:

Gimme lah, ok or not? (Give it to me, OK?)

Can! (Sure!)

Can! (Yes, that is possible)

Cannot. (No way.)

The "Lah" word

The ubiquitous word lah ([l ] or [l ]), used at the end of a sentence, can also be described as a particle that
simultaneously asserts a position and entices solidarity.
Note that 'lah' is often written after a comma for clarity, but there is never a pause before it. This is because in the
original Malay, 'lah' is appended to the end of the word and is not a separate word by itself.
In Malay, 'lah' is used to change a verb into a command or to soften its tone, particularly when usage of the verb may
seem impolite. For example, "to drink" is "minum", but "Here, drink!" is "minumlah". Similarly, 'lah' is frequently used
with imperatives in Singlish, such as the command, "Drink, lah!" (Come on, drink!).[4] 'Lah' also occurs frequently with
"Yah" and "No" (hence "Yah lah" and "No lah"), resulting in a less brusque sound, thus facilitating the flow of
conversation. This form is more used by Chinese in Malaysia.
Lah is often used with brusque, short, negative responses:

Don't have, lah! (Brusque response to, "Lend me some money, can?")

Don't know already, lah! (Brusque response to someone fumbling with an explanation. Mostly by Chinese.)

Lah is also used for reassurance:

Don't worry, he can do it one lah - Don't worry, he can get it done.

It's okay lah - It's all right.

Lah can also be used to emphasize items in a spoken list, appearing after each item in the list but is not commonly
used in this context.

They got sell Nasi Lemak lah, Roti Canai lah, Chapatti lah; Everything got lah!

Although lah can appear nearly anywhere, it cannot appear with a yes-no question. Another particle should be used
instead. For example:

Where are you ar? (This is especially of Chinese origin.)[4]

The Chinese influence in Manglish, however, can be seen among other races in Malaysia, especially when
conversing with Chinese-speaking people. This principle can be generally applied to all forms of non-standard
English spoken in Malaysia.
It might have Tamil origin. Lah is still used widely in Southern Tamil Nadu (Thirunelveli, Kanyakumari district) in the
same manner. Tamil is said to be more pure in this region than northern Tamil Nadu and had ancient trade link with
south east Asia [1].
"Meh" is also a common ubiquitous word that used at the end of a question. It is usually used with a sense of
confidence in his or her own statement but the hint of doubt towards the other person. For example," I like her, can
not mei?" (meaning "I like her. What's wrong with that?").
Many of these terms are spoken by a very wide range of Singaporeans, Malaysians and Chinese locals

"Izzit?" - expression of mild unbelief. (from the word, "Is that so?").