wah lau

See also: wahlau

English

Alternative forms

• wahlau, walao, walau

Etymology

From Teochew and Hokkien. Ultimate origin uncertain: first element equivalent to Hokkien 我 (óa, “my”) + lau, possibly from 老爸 (lāu-pē, “father”). Originated in the 1990s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɑː ˌlaʊ/, [ˈwɑ˦˨ ˌlaʊ˨˧], [ˌwɑ̽ˈlaʊ˨˦˧]

Interjection

wah lau

1. (Singlish, Manglish) An exclamation of annoyance or exasperation.
   • 1992 February 22, soc.culture.asean‎^[1] (Usenet):

     "Wah lau! You tekan him, ah? But he bigger than you, man!"

   • 2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene iv:

     Zion Mansion... Wah lau, wasn’t that built in the Qing Dynasty or something.

Derived terms

• wahlau-eh