saiám

Macanese

Alternative forms

• (archaic) saião

Etymology

From Malay sayang (“what a pity; to regret, to miss”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sayaŋ (“too bad! it’s a pity! what a shame!”). Compare Malaysian and Singaporean English sayang.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /saˈjaŋ/

Interjection

saiám

1. what a pity! what a shame!

   Synonym: qui saiám

   Saiám vôs nôm pôde vêm

   What a pity you can't come

Noun

saiám

1. longing, nostalgia

   churâ saiám Macau ― to weep from missing Macau

References

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