where got en · X
Pronunciation
- /ˈhw-/ (Singapore) very rare, some older speakers
- [ˈwɛː˦ ɡɒt˨] (Singapore)
- /ˈwɛː ˈɡɒt/ (alternative, sentence-final)
- /ˈwɛː ɡɒt/ (Singapore)
- [ˈwɛː˦ ˈɡɒt˦˧]
Etymology
Compare Hokkien 佗落有 (tó-lo̍h ū, “how is it […] ?”, literally “where is there”). 有 (“have; there is”) is rendered as got in Singlish. Also compare Malay mana ada and Mandarin 哪裡有 /哪里有 (nǎlǐ yǒu).
Meanings
-
Used to challenge the validity of an assertion.
— Let’s not do this one. Looks damn scary. — This ride where got scary one?
Poh Lin: 很会花钱 hor? [Got so much money to spend hor?] Benmin: 哪里有。你几点下班？ [Where got. What time do you knock off?]
2018, Joel Tan, “Tango”, in A. Rogers, A. Thorpe, C. Robson, editors, British East Asian Plays, Aurora Metro Books, →ISBN, Act 1, scene 1:
-
Used in questions expressing doubt about the existence or occurrence of something.
Nowadays where got time?