siew dai
adjSingapore [ˈsjuː˨˦ ˌt˭aɪ˨]
Etymology From Chinese, though ultimate source language unascertained. Apparently 少底, literally "less base", from 少 (“less”) + 底 (“base; bottom”) in Cantonese pronunciation, referring to the condensed milk, used for sweetening, that sits at the bottom of the cup. In Cantonese this would be pronounced siu² dai², but the compound has not been traced in Cantonese.
1
Singapore, Colloquial, Informal Less sweet (as a preference when ordering coffee or tea).
- Ordering a cup of Kopi C Siew Dai (Coffee with evaporated milk and less sugar) makes you feel very Singaporean.2007, iwatch_ueat, “Tong Ya coffee: super crispy kaya toast!”, in ishootieatipost, retrieved 01 Apr 2016:
- But nothing beats that cup of kopi-o siu dai from the nearby kopitiam uncle who knows you best.2009, Dominic, “Hello, Google!”, in blog.gothere.sg, retrieved 01 Apr 2016:
2 more examples
- “I like coffee better.” He smiled. “Kopi-O siew dai.2012, Low Kay Hwa, I Believe You:
- Before he opens it, he asks what I would like to drink, then shouts out to a woman stirring a cup of Milo vigorously: “One kopi peng siew dai, and one teh si for me.”2015, Wong Kim Hoh, “Former kopi boy's still full of beans”, in The Straits Times (Singapore), retrieved 01 Apr 2016: