kopi auntie

English

Alternative forms

kopi aunty

Etymology

From Malay kopi (“coffee”) +‎ auntie (term of familiarity or respect applied to elderly women). Usage of auntie probably influenced by Chinese 阿姨 (āyí).

Pronunciation

(Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˈkopi ˈɑnti/

Noun

kopi auntie (plural kopi aunties)

(Singapore, informal) a middle-aged or elderly lady who takes drink orders and serves drinks to patrons of a coffee shop.
- 2006 June 13, Benjamin Lee, miyagi.sg‎^[1], archived from the original on 2021 April 13:
  There’s also the kopi auntie who remembers what your usual beverage is just after two visits, and a new “modern western food” stall that serves pretty decent fare cheaply.
- 2011 January 31, Calvin C., mobypicture‎^[2], archived from the original on 2022 May 20:
  "My boss said must cut cost, so no money to repair toilet door", said Kopi Auntie.
- 2013 July 3, Terry Xu, “One Kopi, No Haze Please”, in The Online Citizen‎^[3], archived from the original on 2016 March 5:
  Does that mean we should blame our kopi aunties and uncles for the haze?
- 2015 September 19, The Straits Times, page C7:
  And I laughed heartily at the Kopi Aunty video which captures so well an everyday slice of life here.