Chope, Eye Power, Rabak Meaning and More Top Singapore Slang

Singapore’s vibrant culture has birthed a distinct and expressive contact language known as Singlish. Whether you’re a local, expat, or just visiting, knowing key Singlish words helps you connect with people around you. This guide explores essential terms, how Singlish speakers associate words, and the deeper cultural context behind them.

From casual chats to cheeky text messages, Singlish goes beyond slang, it’s part of Singapore’s cultural heritage, shaped by multilingual studies and influences from English words, bazaar Malay, Hokkien, Tamil, and other major languages.

Before We Begin, a Look at How Singlish Speakers Associate Words

To comprehend Singlish words, it helps to understand how Singlish speakers associate words across different languages. Unlike other major languages, Singlish blends Malay, Hokkien, English, and Tamil vocabulary, forming a more concise form of speech.

Prof Cynthia Siew, an assistant professor and cognitive scientist, from the National University of Singapore, has been studying Singlish closely through a word association task. Her findings show that when locals hear a Singlish term, the first word they think of is usually another Singlish word, not an English one. This shows how Singlish lingo forms mental links that differ from other major languages.

She believes this stems from people speaking multiple languages daily, creating what she calls creative madness. These commonly associated words keep the same meaning as their origins but come with a local twist.

An associate professor at Nanyang Technological University, Prof Tan, adds that building large language models for Singlish requires understanding these connections. His team’s work, Prof Tan’s research, uses word association to show how bazaar Malay and Hokkien words spark eclectic new expressions.

If you plan to tailor artificial intelligence tools for Singapore, remember this unspoken rule: Singlish might sound casual, but it follows its logic rooted in culture and fluency.

Top Singlish Words Tourists and Expats Need To Know

Here’s a list of quintessential Singlish phrases you’ll hear at hawker stalls, offices, and in chats. These expressions aren’t just colourful, they show how Singaporeans talk.

Knowing them helps you view Singlish not as broken English, but as a fast, expressive, and extremely systematic way to communicate.

Atas

Meaning: Derived from the Malay word for “upstairs,” used to describe something or someone as high-class or snobbish.
Example: “Wah, that café so atas, I don’t dare go in.”
Insight: Atas reflects Singapore’s social stratification and aspiration for upward mobility.

Auntie

Meaning: Respectful term for an older woman, not necessarily a relative.
Example: “Auntie, one kopi, please!”
Tip: Use it to show respect, but be mindful, as age sensitivity is real.

Bopez

Meaning: No hope, nothing left.
Example: “Exam tomorrow, never study. Bopez already.”

Chope

Meaning: To reserve a seat, often with tissue packets.
Example: “Quick, chope the table before it’s gone!”
Why it matters: Using tissue packets is an unspoken rule in hawker centres, reflecting Singapore’s pragmatic culture.

Come I clap for you.

Meaning: A sarcastic phrase used to mock someone’s minor achievement.
Example: “You finally finished your work? Come, I clap for you.”

Dabao

Meaning: Takeaway food, from Mandarin.
Example: “Dabao lunch, eat at desk.”

Double confirm

Meaning: To check or verify something again.
Example: “You sure or not? Double confirm leh.”

Eat grass

Meaning: To be broke, having no money.
Example: “Spent too much, now must eat grass.”

Eee-yer

Meaning: Expression of disgust.
Example: “Eee-yer, why you do like that?”

Eye power

Meaning: Someone who watches but doesn’t help.
Example: “Thanks for your eye power just now; it’s very helpful.”
Tip: Use this phrase to call out passive behaviour in a light-hearted way.

Fast game

Meaning: To do something quickly.
Example: “Let’s fast game, finish and go home.”

Gai gai

Meaning: To go out for leisure, stroll.
Example: “Weekend go gai gai with family.”

Haiz

Meaning: Sigh of exasperation.
Example: “Haiz, so much work.”

Isit

Meaning: “Is it?” Used to express surprise or doubt.
Example: “You got a promotion? Is it?”

Jalan jalan

Meaning: To walk around, from Malay.
Example: “After makan, we jalan jalan.”

Jio

Meaning: To invite someone out.
Example: “Later, jio me for dinner, can?”

Kiap

Meaning: To clamp or hold, often used for food.
Example: “Kiap more chilli, shiok!”

Last warning

Meaning: Final caution before consequences.
Example: “Don’t play already, last warning ah.”

Lepak

Meaning: To relax, chill out.
Example: “Nothing to do, just lepak.”

Ling ling long long

Meaning: Noisy, clattering sounds.
Example: “The kitchen so ling ling long long.”

Makan

Meaning: To eat, from Malay.
Example: “Makan time already, let’s go.”

Not I say one

Meaning: “I’m not the one who said it.”
Example: “Not I say one, but your shirt is ugly.”

Onz

Meaning: To agree, to be on board.
Example: “You want to go? Onz!”

OTOT

Meaning: “Own time, own target”, do at your own pace.
Example: “No rush, just OTOT.”

Pai seh

Meaning: Embarrassed, shy, from Hokkien.
Example: “Pai seh, I forgot your name.”

Paktor

Meaning: To go on a date.
Example: “You paktor with who last night?”

Pang gang

Meaning: To finish work for the day, from Hokkien.
Example: “Pang gang already, time to go home!”
Tip: Shout “pang gang!” at the end of a tough day for instant camaraderie.

Pon

Meaning: To skip class or work.
Example: “Today, pon school, go watch a movie.”

QQ

Meaning: Chewy texture, especially in food.
Example: “This noodle is very QQ, shiok!”

Rabak

Meaning: Out of control, chaotic, or in a sorry state. The rabak meaning comes from the Malay word for “in tatters” and is used to describe situations or people that are messed up or wild.
Example: “Wah, last night’s party was rabak sia!”
Insight: Rabak is a quintessential Singlish phrase that has seen creative evolution, spawning more concise forms like “rabs” or “rabs kebabs” in text messages, reflecting Singlish trends and the sheer fluidity of the language.

Sabo

Meaning: To sabotage, set someone up.
Example: “Don’t sabo me, leh.”

Sian

Meaning: Bored, tired, fed up.
Example: “So sian, nothing to do.”

Shiok

Meaning: Fantastic, satisfying, from Malay.
Example: “This laksa damn shiok!”
Tip: The word shiok describes anything that brings joy, from food to experiences.

Toh

Meaning: To fall asleep suddenly.
Example: “Too tired, toh already.”

Tompang

Meaning: To hitch a ride.
Example: “Can tompang your car later?”

Ulu

Meaning: Remote, far away.
Example: “That place so ulu, how to go?”

Uncle

Meaning: Respectful term for an older man.
Example: “Uncle, one kopi please.”

Vomit blood

Meaning: To be exasperated, frustrated to the point of giving up.
Example: “Teach you so many times, I want to vomit blood already.”
Tip: Use this phrase when someone’s actions are so frustrating, you feel like giving up.

What time already

Meaning: Used to chide someone for being late.
Example: “What time already, still not here?”

Win liao lor

Meaning: “You’ve won already,” used sarcastically.
Example: “You eat so much, win liao lor.”

XMM

Meaning: “Xiao mei mei,” or little girl.
Example: “That XMM very cute.”

You then

Meaning: Retort, “You are!”
Example: “You then lazy lah.”

Zao

Meaning: To leave, run away.
Example: “Police come, better zao!”

Conclusion

Singlish is more than slang. It’s a living contact language shaped by creative evolution, local habits, and cultural blends. Through the work of Prof Siew and Prof Tan, the word association task shows how Singlish speakers store words differently from standard English users.

So step into the Rabs Kebabs world of Singlish. Say “eye power” when someone slacks, shout “pang gang!” at day’s end, or enjoy your food with a loud “shiok.” Even if you’re an overly eager person, picking up some Singlish words helps you feel at home in Singapore.

The nuances takes skill, but it’s worth it. Master just one quintessential Singlish phrase and you’ll connect in truly resonating ways. Today ah, why not give it a try?