laoya

English

Alternative forms

• lau yah
• lauyah

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /laʊ(˩).ja(˨˦)/

Adjective

laoya (comparative more laoya, superlative most laoya)

1. (Singapore, informal) Lousy; useless; worthless.
   • 2006, missqi, "[1]", sgforums, 12 June 2006:

     I noticed standards here are super duper laoya.

   • 2010, lurvecakes, "[2]", SingaporeMotherhood Forum, 9 June 2010:

     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, mmqq, "[3]", SingaporeMotherhood Forum, 11 July 2010:

     My Hokkien definitely cannot make it. Very laoya. Haha!

   • 2012, The Amah Story, "[4]", Singapore Memory, 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!”

   • 2013, lala91, "[5]", MyCarForum, 4 July 2013:

     My school closed down already. My wife's school also sibei laoya one. Sigh.

   • 2014, no987654321, "[6]", Viwawa Forum, 11 July 2010:

     At first, I thought is my laoya computer got problem because I keep getting disconnected or server error messages since Friday.

Anagrams

• Olaya