Word: lah Part of Speech: particle Etymology: From Malay lah, Hokkien 啦 (--la) and Cantonese 啦 (laa¹). Doublet of la in colloquial Hong Kong English. Lim (2007) lists multiple sources: * Bazaar Malay, for its use as a particle of emphasis (akin to Malay lah), and the senses expressing commands, invitations and "solidarity, familiarity [and] informality". * Hokkien 啦 (--la), which indicates finality, completion and confirmation-seeking, as well as "emphasis, persuasiveness, dismissiveness [and] listing". * Cantonese 啦 (laa¹), expressing a "general lack of definiteness or forcefulness", and for its role in softening commands. Pronunciation: /lɑː/, [lä(ː)], [lɑh˨] 1. Placed at the end of a sentence to accentuate the mood or attitude of the speaker. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨], mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: Don’t do it lah, it’s not worth it. 2. Placed at the end of a sentence to convey reassurance or express solidarity. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨], mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: You won’t drown one lah. The water is very shallow. 3. Indicates an attempt at expressing sympathy, conveying informality or sincerity, or establishing a rapport with the listener. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨] Example: Just try your best lah, and don’t think too much about it. 4. Placed at the end of an assertive statement to express denial or dismissiveness. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨], mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: — I don’t think you should be cutting corners, at least put in some effort and make it look legit. — They won’t care one lah... I don’t have all day... 5. Used after an assertive statement to reinforce its authoritativeness, or to show that the speaker is confident with what they are saying. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨], mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: These shoes are too small lah. 6. Asserts that something is clear, obvious or straightforward. Example: Pitch contour: falling [lɑ(ː)˦˨] Example: Near-synonym: lor (sense 2) 7. Used to tone down an imperative sentence, so it sounds more like a request or suggestion. Example: Pitch contour: falling [lɑ(ː)˦˨] Example: I remember my friends telling me, 'People already say you're an artist, then be one lah.' 8. Indicates strong persuasion at the end of an imperative sentence. Example: Pitch contour: mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: Don’t waste your time there lah. 9. Indicates a retrospective remark or a reassessment of one’s opinion. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨], mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: — Not many people would think of using a pressure cooker. — I mean, it’s pretty unconventional lah, I have to admit. 10. Reinforces a suggestion with the implication that it is the more practical option. Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨], mid-falling [lɑː˧˨] Example: The nearest train station is 15 minutes away. I think we take the bus lah, hor? 11. Indicates confirmation-seeking at the end of an inferential statement. Example: Pitch contour: falling [lɑː˦˨] Example: In other words, you’re the one who started it lah! 12. Used to express realisation, or vexation when something is already obvious. Example: Pitch contour: falling [lɑː˦˨] Example: So in the end it wasn’t my fault lah! 13. Reinforces the factuality of an assertive statement made to correct an inaccurate, underlying assumption. Labels: uncommon Example: Pitch contour: mid-rising [lɑ(ː)˧˦] Example: Oh wait it’s not today, lah. It’s on Sunday. 14. Used to convey a slight sense of dissatisfaction or irritation. Labels: uncommon Example: Pitch contour: mid-rising [lɑ(ː)˧˦] 15. Used for enumeration (when listing examples). Labels: uncommon Example: Pitch contour: mid [lɑː˧] Example: He teach them how to cook lah, learn computer lah... […] 16. An assertive separator, used to reverse the order of the usual topic–comment structure of a sentence. Labels: Malaysia, uncommon Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑ(ː)˨] Example: No fun lah, you. 17. Used sarcastically. Labels: uncommon Example: Pitch contour: low-mid [lɑː˨], (in the example below) high-mid [lɑ(ː)˦] Example: No lah, no lah.