TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Over the recent years, Singaporean English or Singlish has been successfully carving out its own space in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). After the inclusion of "Shiok" in 2016 and "Alamak" in 2025, among others, a fresh batch of nine Singlish terms now make the cut, earning their official dictionary status.
Having a word enter the OED is no small feat, given that the dictionary has long served as a comprehensive guide to the meaning, history, and usage of more than 500,000 words and phrases from the past and present.
In its 2026 update, the OED announced new additions from across the globe. Among the few source language groups, Singaporean English stood out with nine newly added entries. These range from versatile terms like “agak-agak,” which functions as both a noun and a verb, to descriptive expressions such as “jialat,” along with food-related staples like “ice kacang.”
Below is the full list of Singlish expressions that entered the OED in its latest update on March 24.
Singlish Expressions Entered the Oxford English Dictionary
1. assam laksa (noun)
Meaning: a sour and spicy noodle originating in the Malaysian state of Penang, made with fish broth and tamarind and typically garnished with mint leaves, shredded cucumber, pineapple slices, red chillies, sweet shrimp paste, and calamansi.
2. agak-agak (noun, verb)
Meaning: to guess or estimate.
3. boleh (verb, intransitive)
Meaning: to have the ability to do or deal with something.
4. BTO (noun, verb)
Meaning: Build-To-Order public housing; also used as a verb to describe the act of applying for a BTO flat.
5. ice kacang (noun)
Meaning: a dessert made of shaved ice sweetened with rose, palm sugar, or other syrups, typically topped with red beans, palm seeds, jelly, and sweet corn, then drizzled with condensed or evaporated milk.
6. jialat (adjective)
Meaning: terrible, horrible.
7. kaypoh (noun, adjective, verb)
Meaning: nosy or meddlesome; to pry or interfere.
8. play play (verb)
Meaning: to fool about, mess around, or waste time.
9. wayang (noun, adjective)
Meaning: an Indonesian and Malaysian theatrical performance of mythological events using puppets or human dancers; also used to describe something showy or fake.
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