Dictionary

kopi auntie en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkopi ˈɑnti/ (Singapore)

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).

Meanings

1. (Singapore, informal) A middle-aged or elderly lady who takes drink orders and serves drinks to patrons of a coffee shop.
   • 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. 2006 June 13, Benjamin Lee, miyagi.sg, archived from the original on 13 Apr 2021:
   • Does that mean we should blame our kopi aunties and uncles for the haze? 2013 July 3, Terry Xu, “One Kopi, No Haze Please”, in The Online Citizen, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016:
   • And I laughed heartily at the Kopi Aunty video which captures so well an everyday slice of life here. 2015 September 19, The Straits Times, page C7:
   • "My boss said must cut cost, so no money to repair toilet door", said Kopi Auntie. 2011 January 31, Calvin C., mobypicture, archived from the original on 20 May 2022:

Forms