wah lau

• walao, walau, wah lau eh, walao eh, walau eh

From Teochew and Hokkien. Ultimate origin uncertain: first element equivalent to Hokkien 我 (óa, “my”) + lau, possibly from 老爸 (lāu-pē, “father”). Alternatively, a shortening of Hokkien 我老的 (góa lāu--ê, literally “my elderly [someone, e.g., father]”), from which the alternative forms wah lau eh and walao eh are derived. Compare Mandarin 哇老誒 / 哇老诶 (wà láo ei).

• (Singapore, Malaysia) IPA^(key): /ˈwɑː ˌlaʊ/, [ˈwɑ˦˨ ˌlaʊ˨˧], [ˌwɑ̽ˈlaʊ˨˦˧]
  • (corresponding to the forms wah lau eh and walao eh): IPA^(key): [ˈwɑ˦˨ ˌlaʊ˨˧ eː˨], [ˌwɑ̽ˈlaʊ˨˦˧ eː˨]

wah lau

1. (Singlish, Manglish) An exclamation of annoyance or exasperation. [from 1990s]
   • 1992 February 22, soc.culture.asean‎^[1] (Usenet):

     "Wah lau! You tekan him, ah? But he bigger than you, man!"

   • 2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene iv:

     Zion Mansion... Wah lau, wasn’t that built in the Qing Dynasty or something.