Dictionary

mah en · DET · etymology 1

Etymology

Meanings

1. (Southern-US, alt-of, pronunciation-spelling, qualifier:African-American Vernacular) Pronunciation spelling of my.
   alt of my
   • Adventurer: 'AFTER YEARS OF ADVENTURING... I HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE STREETPASS ARENA. ONCE I REST MAH HOOFS, I'M GOING TO RECORD MY SECRET BATTLE TECHNIQUE.' 2014 June 26, Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope, Nintendo 3DS, level/area: Streetpass Arena:

mah en · PART · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /mɑː˧/ (Malaysia, Singapore)

Etymology

From Cantonese 嘛 (maa³) or Singaporean Hokkien 嘛 (--ma).

Meanings

1. (Manglish, Singlish) Asserts that there is a straightforward or self-evident reason for something.
   • If I’m running around for errands, I want to look cute also mah. I used to wear shorts, but now I’d rather not. It’ll look like I’ve got thousands of cat scratches. 2024 March 28, Benjamin Tan, quoting Ursula Soh, “In Their Own Skin: Portraits of Eczema in Singapore”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2024:
   • In response, I ask if he thinks that his future child would be embarrassed about the online reputation that he has built for himself after all these years. “Why? All of this is just acting mah, I got nothing to be ashamed about.” 2018 July 13, Shaun Tan, quoting Kurt Tay, “Does Someone Like Kurt Tay Deserve To Be A Father?”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 09 Aug 2024:
   • Especially today—we holiday, mah, so don’t bring them to town until tomorrow. 2014, Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, Singapore Noir, Akashic Books, →ISBN, page 89:
   • […] Alternatively train SBS bus drivers to become pilots also since they are already bus captains. Anyone can become a pilot mah. Its so easy. Everybody should give it try-but not with me on board. 2003, ANGELL, “SIA PILOT ISSUE”, in soc.culture.singapore (Usenet):
   • — The plants are all dying already. — No one here to water them mah...

Forms

Relateds

already · ba1 · know · lah1–14 · in · hor1 · leh3–6 · Gupta · lor1 · leh1–2 · ba2 · A. F. (1992) · one1–3 · hah1–3 · only · number 1 · ah6 · volume 18 · ah1–3 · nia · liao · hor2 · what · meh · lor2–3 · leh7–11 · sia · →DOI

Synonyms

what

mah en · PART · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /mɑː˦/ (Malaysia, Singapore)

Etymology

From Mandarin 嗎／吗 (ma) or Cantonese 嗎／吗 (maa⁵).

Meanings

1. (colloquial) Used at the end of an affirmative declarative sentence to change it into a yes–no question.
   • Coz must charge daily lei 2024 December 8, endlssorrow, “U guys bring smart watch oversea mah”, in HardwareZone Forums:

Forms