As a 90s kid, nothing warms my heart more than recalling the times in primary school when my friends used phrases like “orbi good” and “neh neh ni poo poo” to annoy me. Oh, sweet memories. However, with the rise of the internet, the phrases used by kids of the social media generation are a whole new ball game.
What on earth is “w00ts!” and what does “neh neh ni poo poo” stand for?? In this post on 13 primary school phrases that only make sense to Singaporean millennials, I’ll teach you how to converse like one of them cool kids while also take a walk down memory lane.
What it means: Used rhetorically, it can mean “I told you so!” and “ you deserve it!” depending on the context. Essentially just rubbing salt into the other person’s wounds.
How to use:
Student A: *falls down*
Student B: who ask you anyhow run HAHAHAHA
What it means: It means “Serves you right”. It is to insult or laugh at others for their misfortune and has a similar effect as the phrase “Who ask you”. However, for this phrase, it is mandatory to flap your arms for maximal effect.
How to use:
Student A: Wah I forgot to do my homework! This time teacher sure scold me one.
Student B: Hahaha, who ask you play Pokemon Go! Play until forget, ORBI GOOD.
What it means: Literally meaning how the user intends to report the other person’s actions to the teacher. It is commonly used as a threat from one classmate to another which is generally quite effective as students fear getting reprimanded.
How to use:
Student A: OR HORRR you copy her homework, I TELL TEACHER!
Student B:
What it means: Mainly used by the 90s kids, this was The Phrase used to annoy your friends during catching games. It is expressed in a sing-song manner in order to taunt the “catcher”. Up the annoy-ometer by sticking your tongue out and flapping your hands up and down like a duck.
What it means: As a counter to people who like to us “got” a lot as it sounds like “God”.
How to use:
Student A: Where got?
Student B:
What it means: Coming from the root word “eeyer”, it is used to express disgust. “Eeyer” can also be shortened to “eeee”. Primary school kids like to stretch the word for added emphasis, “eee” =/ “eeeeeeeee”. Remember, the longer you hold your breath saying it, the greater the disgust expressed. Got it?
How to use:
Student A: Eeeeeeeyer you dig nose, you yellow yellow dirty fellow!
What it means: A remark made from one to another to laugh/ insult/ express disgust at someone’s dirtiness. Typically said in a sing-song tune with an increasing pitch. Not a racist remark as far as we know.
How to use:
Student A: *digs his nose*
Student B: eeeee you yellow yellow dirty fellow!
What it means: The censored version of “WTF”, used in the same way as an exclamation of disgust/ surprise/ shock/ annoyance. Because saying the F-word will result in an “OH HOR I TELL TEACHER!”
How to use:
Student A: OI OI POKEMON GO IS AVAILABLE NOW IN SINGAPORE LEH
Student B: What the fish really????
What it means: “Siao” means “crazy” while “Liao” means “already”. Putting them together, it is used as an expression when something bad or unfortunate happens.
How to use:
Student A: Wah siao liao, my phone kena confiscated by cher. How now??
What it means: To express happiness/ excitement. Typically used by the 90s kids.
How to use:
*crush comes online on MSN*
Student A: omg w00ts Sarah is online!!
What it means: No this isn’t a reference to the online fashion label Sabo Skirt. Far from it actually. Sabo, is short for ‘sabotage’ and can be used when someone does something to get you in trouble.
How to use:
Student A: Teacher! She never do homework!
Student B: OI, DON’T SABO ME LEH!!!!
Student A: ORBI GOOD! (see #1)
What it means: Said in a sing-song manner, it is just a more civil way to reject someone requests to borrow/ see your belongings. Because, who wants to pay just to touch something?
How to use:
Student A: Eh eh eh can I see your pencil case pleaseeee
Student B: See no touch, touch no see, see and touch must pay money
Student A: Walao eh, okay lor. I don’t see.
What it means: Short for “We are not friends” or “We won’t be friends anymore”, it is used as a threat from one to another. An alternative version used by adults would be “I’m serious”.
How to use:
Student A: Eh don’t tell teacher I never do my homework ah if not I don’t friend you
Student B: ya la ya la
With the growing vocabulary of the younger ones and the rising influence of social media, many of these phrases have been but a thing of the past. Many new slang phrases have been added to our slang bank with more popular ones like “YOLO” and “ship“. Nevertheless you may still hear some of the above being said by the 90s kids which still brings back a wave of nostalgia for many.
Have more to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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