leh
particle/lɛ˨/ · [lɛ(ː)˨]
Etymology From Hokkien 咧 (--leh, “declarative particle used for emphasis; interrogative particle used to express doubt”).
11 senses
- 1Used to convey uncertainty (in response to inconsistent…
- 2Used to form “what about … ?” questions.
- 3Used to highlight or relay noteworthy information.
- 4Used to highlight the severity or seriousness of a situation.
- 5Reinforces the truth of a declarative remark.
- 6Indicates a tentative reminder.
- 7Indicates a tentative request.
- 8Indicates disagreement with an idea or suggestion.
- 9Used to soften a disagreeing opinion.
- 10Reinforces a tentative opinion and invites agreement.
- 11Used to suggest that the listener has failed to take…
1
Used to convey uncertainty (in response to inconsistent information).
- Pitch contour: mid [lɛ˧], (interrogative) high-mid [lɛ˦]
- No leh, it’s right here.
4 more examples
- I counted 30 leh.
- Why-ah? What happened to the lift-ah. Going up. Going down. But never stop. Door never open some more. Don't know-leh.2007, Elangovan, P, Singapore, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 80:
- You got send [e-mail] meh? I never receive leh.2010 August 22, Fiona Chan, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page 13:
- How come got 81 judges and then the number of votes is 45 vs 47 leh? 45+47 is 92 leh.2016 October 8, Chew Hui Min, quoting Lee Kin Mun, “Netizens debate how 81 judges cast 92 votes in Sing! China final”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 06 Aug 2024:
2
Interrogative Used to form “what about … ?” questions.
- Pitch contour: (interrogative) high-mid [lɛ˦]
- Our appointment leh?
1 more example
- OK, this one, leh?2002 May 14, Niamh O’Leary, The Straits Times, Singapore, page L2:
3
Used to highlight or relay noteworthy information.
- Pitch contour: low-mid [lɛ˨]
- It’s next week leh.
1 more example
- “After I got the degree, I told my dad that I’m going to do an MBA. He said, ‘Eh, no more money leh’. But I said, ‘It’s okay’.”2014 July 21, Eddino Abdul Hadi, quoting Eddie Sung, “Former recruitment consultant Eddie Sung wanted to be the first Asian known for rock photography”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 05 Dec 2023:
4
Used to highlight the severity or seriousness of a situation.
- Pitch contour: low-mid [lɛ˨]
- Many houses were destroyed leh.
2 more examples
- Thirty-five thousand jobs, leh. Not something to sneeze at.2005 April 22, Lee Kin Mun, Today, Singapore, page 30:
- Navigating gradients in high heels, she says with a giggle, is “no joke leh”. She is, however, more than adroit and willing to tackle more difficult courses, like blazing new trails for Singapore’s nascent space industry.2023 March 5, Wong Kim Hoh, quoting Lynette Tan, The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2024:
5
Reinforces the truth of a declarative remark.
- Pitch contour: low-mid [lɛ˨]
- You all damn noisy leh how to sleep?
2 more examples
- We put all the poetry packets in a bag and let people rummage through it and pick one at random when they left the house. […] “Amazing leh, I can’t believe it was a random pick,” he texted me later, “This is better than ang pow!”2015 March 1, Corrie Tan, “We filled our hongbao with poetry, not cash”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 05 Dec 2022:
- “They asked me to do the striptease. I said no,” confessed Bachelor #1. / “Why not? You’re from NDU leh,” I remarked, surprised that even someone from the Naval Diving Unit would be shy about showing his body.2015 April 19, Yeo Sam Jo, “Hello, I'm Eligible Bachelor #43”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 08 Jun 2016:
6
Indicates a tentative reminder.
- Pitch contour: low-mid [lɛ˨]
- Still got risotto in the fridge leh.
2 more examples
- “Today Friday leh, I want to go out!” they imagined Dr Tan thinking.2022 February 25, Hariz Baharudin, quoting SGAG, “Exam results, CCAs and Budget memes: What politicians are talking about”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 27 Nov 2022:
- I just wanna have a lil dance to some tunes. Tomorrow still got work leh2024 April 26, Kimberly Lim, quoting @milotruckdreams, “In Praise of the Early Evening Bash: Inside A 5-10PM Party”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 30 May 2024:
7
Imperative Indicates a tentative request.
- Pitch contour: mid [lɛ˧]
- Close the door leh.
3 more examples
- Hello Mr Chan — why alone? Where's the better half? Bring her next time eh.1983, Stella Kon, Emily of Emerald Hill, →ISBN, Act 1, page 20:
- Sing us a song, leh.1994, C.S. Chong, NS: An Air-Level Story, page 29:
- It feels like a cheap gimmick to attract environmentalist types, when I don’t see any concrete policies to address that. If you don’t care, then don’t pretend to care leh. If you care, then make sure you got details to back you up, can?2020 June 29, Poh Yong Han, “A Regular Singaporean’s Guide To Each Party’s Vision For The Economy”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 23 May 2024:
8
Indicates disagreement with an idea or suggestion.
- Pitch contour: mid [lɛ˧]
- — We can try taking the train. — I don’t think we’ll have enough time leh.
1 more example
- Singaporean poet Cyril Wong might have been one of the first home-grown writers to depict sexuality so frankly on the page, but on the occasion of his 16th poetry collection, he laments: “I’m not just a confessional writer leh.”2023 August 19, Shawn Hoo, quoting Cyril Wong, “Don’t call him a confessional poet: Cyril Wong on Beachlight, his 16th poetry book”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, archived from the original on 01 Jun 2024:
9
Used to soften a disagreeing opinion.
- Pitch contour: mid [lɛ˧]
- I don’t think that’s accurate leh.
10
Reinforces a tentative opinion and invites agreement.
- Pitch contour: mid [lɛ˧]
- In my opinion the crème brûlée was so-so only leh.
11
Used to suggest that the listener has failed to take something into consideration.
- Pitch contour: mid [lɛ˧]
- I don’t have all day leh.
1 more example
- Lester did not want to tell me about his feelings for his friend or his reasons for not talking about this absence of labels because “It’s a very private topic leh”—a telling response in itself.2019 May 24, Yeo Boon Ping, quoting Lester, “Finally, An Explanation for Why So Many Singaporeans Can’t Commit Romantically”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 22 Jun 2024: