swee

English

A black-faced swee in South Africa

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeia, from its call.

Noun

swee (plural swees)

1. A finch of species Coccopygia melanotis, found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Synonyms

• swee waxbill

Etymology 2

From Hokkien 媠 (súi, “pretty”). Compare Tagalog yasuwi.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /swi˦˨/, (reduplication) /swi˧ swi˦˨/, /swi˨˦ -/

Adjective

swee (comparative more swee, superlative most swee)

1. (Singlish) Great, neat, nice, excellent.
   • 2011 April 3, Yeoh Wee Teck, quoting Harry Yew, The New Paper, Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings Limited, pages 10–11:

     When it comes to charity, Irene will make sure everything is ‘swee swee’ (Hokkien for perfect).

   • 2014 January 26, Sylvia Toh Paik Choo, The Sunday Times, quoted in Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English, Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings Limited, page 3:

     “Sweee!” and “Gooaaal!” That’s the familiar cry heard throughout the neighbourhood. It’s English Premier League and there’s no greater equaliser ground than the kampung coffeeshop in uniting Singapore’s football fans and followers.

2. (Singlish, rarer) Neat and tidy.
3. (Singlish, rarer) Pretty, good-looking.

Anagrams

• ewes, wees

Scots

Verb

swee

1. to sway