Phrase guide

wah lau

intj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Malaysia, Singapore: /ˈwɑː ˌlaʊ/
  • Malaysia, Singapore: [ˈwɑ˦˨ ˌlaʊ˨˧]
  • Malaysia, Singapore: [ˌwɑ̽ˈlaʊ˨˦˧]
  • [ˈwɑ˦˨ ˌlaʊ˨˧ eː˨] corresponding to the forms wah lau eh and walao eh
  • [ˌwɑ̽ˈlaʊ˨˦˧ eː˨] corresponding to the forms wah lau eh and walao eh

1

intj

Meaning 1

An exclamation of annoyance or exasperation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Manglish, Singlish

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Teochew and Hokkien. Ultimate origin uncertain: first element equivalent to Hokkien 我 (óa, “my”) + lau, possibly from 老爸 (lāu-pē, “father”). Alternatively, a shortening of Hokkien 我老的 (óa lāu--ê, literally “my elderly [someone, e.g., father]”), from which the alternative forms wah lau eh and walao eh are derived. Compare Mandarin 哇老誒 /哇老诶 (wà láo ei).