cúli

See also: culi, -culi, and cu li

Macanese

Alternative forms

• cule, cúle

Etymology

Most likely from English coolie, from Hindustani क़ुली / قلی (qulī, “hired laborer”), possibly from Ottoman Turkish قول (kul, “servant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈku.li/

Noun

cúli

1. coolie, rickshaw or trishaw carrier

   Chomâ quanto cúli para cartá tudo ancuza ― Call for a few coolies to carry everything

2. (derogatory) useless person, person of no worth

Derived terms

• cabéça-di-cúli (“stevedore at the docks and markets responsible for a team of coolies”, literally “head of coolies”)

References

• https://www.macaneselibrary.org/pub/english/uipatua.htm#c

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• cole
• cule

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈku.li/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈku.li/

Noun

cúli m (plural cúlis)

1. coolie (unskilled Asian worker)