The back pages
The Verdle slang dictionary
Every word that has been a Verdle answer, with what it means and how it’s said. 246 words so far; a word joins once its puzzle day is over.
A
- abang Big brother; any older guy.
- abuden What else? Obviously.
- achar Spicy-sour pickled vegetables.
- adik Younger sibling; any kid.
- adoi Ouch! Ugh!
- agak Estimate, roughly guess.
- agar Seaweed jelly, often in rainbow layers.
- ahbeng Loud, flashy guy: spiky hair and bling.
- ahgong Grandpa.
- ahlian Female ah beng: loud, flashy, fierce.
- ahlong Loan shark.
- ahma Grandma.
- ahpek Old man, uncle.
- aiyah Oh well, never mind.
- aiyoh Oh dear! Exasperated sigh.
- alamak Oh no! Oh dear!
- angpow Red packet of money.
- asam Tamarind, or anything sour, as in asam laksa.
- atas Posh, snobbish, fancy.
- ayam Chicken.
B
- baju Clothes, a top.
- bakar Grilled over fire.
- bakkwa Sweet barbecued pork jerky, a CNY treat.
- balik Go back, return home.
- bandung Rose syrup with milk: pink, sweet and cold.
- banyak A lot; very.
- barra Barramundi.
- belacan Pungent fermented shrimp paste.
- belanja Treat someone (to a meal).
- betul Correct, true.
- bhola Innocent, naive.
- bihun Thin rice vermicelli.
- bilis Tiny anchovies, fried crispy.
- bising Noisy.
- blur Clueless, slow to catch on.
- bodge To do a botched job.
- bodoh Stupid, silly.
- bohliao Bored, nothing better to do.
- bojio You didn't invite me!
- boleh Can, possible; the can-do spirit.
- bomoh Traditional healer, shaman.
- bopian No choice, can't be helped.
- bosh Done! There!
- botak Bald; a shaved head.
- bougie Fancy, or acting upper class.
- briyani Spiced rice with meat, often cooked in a big pot.
- buay Cannot, unable to.
- buaya Crocodile; a smooth-talking playboy.
- bubur Porridge, sweet or savoury.
- bungkus Wrap to take away; also to be done for.
C
- cabut Leave fast, run away.
- cakap Talk, say.
- canai As in roti canai: flaky griddled flatbread (MY).
- cepat Quick, hurry.
- cheem Deep, complicated, hard to follow.
- chendol Shaved ice with green jelly, coconut milk and palm sugar.
- chio Pretty, good-looking.
- chiobu A pretty girl.
- chiong Rush, charge; party hard.
- chope Reserve a seat, often with a tissue packet.
- cicak House lizard on the wall.
- cikgu Teacher.
- cincai Anyhow, careless, whatever works.
- cincau Grass jelly: black, wobbly, often in drinks.
- comel Cute.
D
F
G
H
I
J
K
- kacau Disturb, pester, mess with.
- kahwin Marry.
- kakak Big sister; any young woman.
- kaki Leg; also a buddy who shares your hobby.
- kambing Goat or mutton.
- kampung Village, hometown.
- kantoi Caught red-handed.
- kasi Give; let.
- kawan Friend.
- kaya Coconut egg jam on toast; also means rich.
- kaypoh Nosy; a busybody.
- kebaya Fitted embroidered blouse.
- kedai Shop.
- kelapa Coconut.
- kena Get hit with something: a fine, a scolding, bad luck.
- keng Fake being sick to skip duty.
- kenyang Full after eating.
- kerang Cockles, often in char kway teow.
- keras Hard, tough; stubborn.
- kerja Work, a job.
- keropok Crunchy prawn or fish crackers.
- ketupat Rice cooked in a woven palm-leaf pouch.
- kiasi Scared to die; over-cautious.
- kiasu Scared of losing out, so you overdo everything.
- kicap Soy sauce, sweet or salty.
- kongsi Share; a joint arrangement.
- kopi Coffee, kopitiam style: thick, strong and sweet.
- kopic Coffee with evaporated milk and sugar (kopi-C).
- kopio Black coffee with sugar, no milk (kopi-O).
- kosong Empty or plain: no sugar, no filling, nothing.
- koyak Torn; also upset or butthurt after a jab.
- kuih Bite-size traditional cakes, sweet or savoury.
L
- labuan Federal territory island off Sabah, a duty-free port.
- lafanga A loafer, a good-for-nothing.
- lagi More, again; even more so.
- laksa Spicy noodle soup, coconut curry or sour fish.
- lambat Slow, late.
- lansi Arrogant, cocky.
- lapar Hungry.
- lemak Rich with coconut milk, as in nasi lemak.
- lepak Hang out doing nothing much.
- liao Already; done for.
- liddat Like that.
- limau Lime or small citrus; teh-O limau is lime tea.
- lipas Cockroach.
- lobang Hole; a hot tip or good deal.
- lontong Compressed rice cakes in vegetable curry.
M
- mabuk Drunk; also seasick or carsick.
- macam Like, as if.
- macha Buddy, bro.
- mahal Expensive.
- majama All good, doing fine.
- makan To eat; a meal; food in general.
- makcik Auntie, an older woman.
- malas Lazy.
- malu Shy, embarrassed, ashamed.
- mamak Indian-Muslim eatery open late; also its owner.
- mampus Dead meat, totally screwed.
- mandi Bathe, shower.
- manis Sweet; also cute or charming.
- manja Clingy, spoiled, needs attention.
- masam Sour; also a sulky face.
- mata Eye; slang for the police.
- maven An expert.
- merajuk Sulk; give someone the silent treatment.
- minum To drink.
- murah Cheap.
N
O
P
- padang Field, open green.
- paiseh Embarrassed; sorry for the trouble.
- pakcik Uncle, an older man.
- paktor Go on dates; be in a relationship.
- panas Hot, as in weather or temper.
- pandai Clever.
- pandan Fragrant screwpine leaf, the region's vanilla.
- pangseh Stand someone up, abandon.
- pasar Market; pasar malam is the night market.
- pedas Spicy-hot.
- penat Tired.
- pening Dizzy; headache-inducing.
- perasan Full of yourself; imagining things.
- pisang Banana; pisang goreng is banana fritter.
- ponteng Skip school or work.
- popiah Fresh spring roll stuffed with stewed turnip.
- prata Flaky griddled flatbread with curry (SG name).
- pulut Glutinous rice.
R
- rajin Hardworking.
- raya Hari Raya, the Eid festival.
- rebus Boiled; mee rebus comes in a thick sweet gravy.
- rendang Slow-cooked dry curry of beef or chicken.
- rilek Relax, chill.
- rojak Fruit-and-veg salad in prawn paste; also any messy mix.
- roti Bread; also short for roti prata or roti canai.
- rumah House, home.
S
- sabo Sabotage; get someone in trouble for fun.
- sakit Sick, painful.
- saman A fine or summons, usually traffic.
- sambal Fiery chilli paste that goes with everything.
- samseng Gangster, thug.
- santan Coconut milk, the base of half of all curries.
- sapu Sweep; grab or finish everything.
- satay Grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce.
- sayang Darling; also 'what a pity'.
- sedap Delicious.
- sejuk Cold.
- senang Easy; also comfortable.
- sepilok Orangutan rehabilitation centre near Sandakan.
- shiok Great, delicious, deeply satisfying.
- sian Bored, weary, fed up.
- siao Crazy. Are you mad?
- sikit A little, a bit.
- simi What?
- sirap Rose syrup cordial: bright pink and very sweet.
- sixer A six, a hit over the boundary.
- sotong Squid; also someone clueless.
- suay Unlucky.
- susah Difficult, troublesome.
- swee Beautiful, perfect, nicely done.
T
- tahan Endure, put up with.
- takut Afraid.
- tambah Add more; a second helping.
- tangga Steps or stairs, leading up to a raised house.
- tapao Takeaway food, or to pack it to go.
- tarik Pulled; teh tarik is milk tea poured high until frothy.
- tauge Bean sprouts.
- tauhu Tofu; tauhu goreng comes with peanut sauce.
- tehc Tea with evaporated milk and sugar (teh-C).
- tekan Press; push someone hard, bully.
- telur Egg.
- tengok Look, watch.
- thosai Thin crispy rice-and-lentil crepe.
- tidur Sleep.
- tipu Cheat, lie.
- togs A swimsuit.
- tolong Help; please.
- towkay Boss, shop owner.
- tumpang Hitch a ride; tag along.
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
soh.ai front page · How to play · Back issues · Slang dictionary · About