lah
9.9
A short word at the end of a sentence in some Southeast Asian English to soften or make it friendlier
- particle
- Philippine
:
lah
- If you're tired, just go home lah — nobody will blame you for leaving early tonight.
Examples
-
Don't worry about the meeting, lah, everyone knows how busy you are today.
-
You should try this dish, lah.
-
She smiled and said lah to make her disagreement sound less harsh and friendlier.
-
It's really nice here, lah!
-
Don't worry about the meeting, lah, everyone knows how busy you are today.
-
If you're tired, just go home lah — nobody will blame you for leaving early tonight.
-
She smiled and said lah to make her disagreement sound less harsh.
Surface Forms
lah main
Etymology
The word lah at the end of a sentence comes from Malay and other Southeast Asian languages where the small word lah adds 'friendliness', 'emphasis', or reassurance, so when someone says 'Don't worry, lah' they are softening the sentence or making it sound more friendly.
