Dictionary

kopitiam en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [k˭o˦.p˭i˦.t˭jam˨˩] (Malaysia, Singapore) Hokkien pronunciation
• /-ɪtjam/ (Malaysia, Singapore)
• /ˈkɒpɪˌtiːəm/ (UK)
• /ˈkopitjam/ (Malaysia, Singapore)
• [ˈko˧.pi.˧.tjam˦] (Malaysia, Singapore)
• /ˈkəʊ-/ (UK)
• [k˭o˨.p˭i˨.t˭jam˨˩] (Malaysia, Singapore)
• /ˌkɒpɪˈtiːəm/ (UK)

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay kopitiam, from Hokkien 咖啡店 (ko-pi-tiàm), in turn from Malay kopi (“coffee”).

Meanings

1. (Malaysia, Singapore) A traditional style of eatery having public seating and multiple vendors selling Chinese, Indian, and Malay food.
   • Bustling kopitiams sprouted around derelict whiskey bars like toadstools around rotting logs. 2008, Preeta Samarasan, Evening is the Whole Day, Fourth Estate, page 23:

Forms