kaypoh
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Hokkien 家婆 (ke-pô).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
kaypoh (comparative more kaypoh, superlative most kaypoh)
- (Singapore, Malaysia, slang) Being a busybody, prying into the business of others.
- Synonym: nosy
- 2007 March 26, Yeng Ai Chun, “A task for a ‘busybody’”, in The Star[2], Malaysia, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2 January 2019:
- “My elder sister and mother don’t like me doing this. They would scold me and say I’m kaypoh.
- 2007 October 6, William K. C. Kee, “My diva dog, Chai Chai”, in The Star[3], Malaysia, →OCLC, archived from the original on 3 January 2019:
- The slightest noise eg.[sic] me opening an envelope, will have him running up to investigate, being very kaypoh (nosey) by nature.
Noun edit
kaypoh (plural kaypohs)
- (Singapore, Malaysia, slang) A busybody.
- 2007 March 26, Yeng Ai Chun, “A task for a ‘busybody’”, in The Star[4], Malaysia, archived from the original on 2 January 2019:
- To get problems rectified, Lim who admits to being a “kaypoh” (busybody), would hassle the relevant authorities.
Verb edit
kaypoh (third-person singular simple present kaypohs, present participle kaypohing, simple past and past participle kaypohed)
- (Singapore, Malaysia, slang) To act as a busybody, to pry into the business of others.
- 2000, Hwee Hwee Tan, Foreign Bodies, →ISBN, page 236:
- I thought through every angle, then Jesus decides to kaypoh and mess everything up.
- 2014, Mānoa - Volume 26, page 38:
- Don't kaypoh so much. Locked door, not allowed to go inside, means don't go—understand?
- 2016, Jason Erik Lundberg, The Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singaporean Short Stories, →ISBN:
- Puay Sim interrupted, clacking her chopsticks decisively over a slice of fried fish. “If you don't know them, don't kaypoh, Mum.
Further reading edit
Singlish vocabulary on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Baba Malay edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
kaypoh