Dictionary

laoya en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /laʊ(˩).ja(˨˦)/ (Singapore)

Etymology

From Hokkien 老爺／老爷 (lāu-iâ, “old-fashioned”).

Meanings

1. (Singapore, informal) Lousy; useless; worthless.
   • I tried their sample cleanser, my face was popping pimples like mad and their nail polish, so laoya! So I thought their products very lousy... 2010, lurvecakes, "http://singaporemotherhood.com/forum/threads/2007-03-march-2007-mtbs.521/page-3848", SingaporeMotherhood Forum, 9 June 2010
   • At first, I thought is my laoya computer got problem because I keep getting disconnected or server error messages since Friday. 2014, no987654321, "http://www.viwawa.com/forums/event-i-m-a-true-gunner.28736.html&page=10", Viwawa Forum, 11 July 2010
   • My school closed down already. My wife's school also sibei laoya one. Sigh. 2013, lala91, "http://www.mycarforum.com/topic/2649824-any-bro-from-hokkien-huay-kuan/page-4", MyCarForum, 4 July 2013
   • Her eyes flashed defiantly, then moisted over as she sobbed, “Men are really very suay. My laoya husband has sold away our precious child!” 2012, The Amah Story, "http://www.singaporememory.sg/contents/SMB-cd8d1482-0ff1-4e5d-984b-1617ef528eae", Singapore Memory, 4 July 2013
   • My Hokkien definitely cannot make it. Very laoya. Haha! 2010, mmqq, "http://singaporemotherhood.com/forum/threads/2007-03-march-2007-mtbs.521/page-3912", SingaporeMotherhood Forum, 11 July 2010
   • I noticed standards here are super duper laoya. 2006, missqi, "http://sgforums.com/forums/12/topics/194857?page=2", sgforums, 12 June 2006

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