agak-agak
A Malay-derived term used in Manglish (Malaysian English) and Singlish (Singaporean English) to describe an approximate, eye-balled approach to measuring or estimating — particularly in cooking, where precise measurements are skipped in favour of instinct.
Definitions
A Malay-derived term used in Manglish (Malaysian English) and Singlish (Singaporean English) to describe an approximate, eye-balled approach to measuring or estimating — particularly in cooking, where precise measurements are skipped in favour of instinct. Broadly applied to any situation where someone guesses rather than calculates. Typically used with an affectionate or pragmatic tone, reflecting a culturally valued skill of experienced cooks and practical problem-solvers.
My grandmother never uses measuring cups — she just agak-agak the amount of coconut milk and it always tastes perfect.
Comments
(Manglish, Singlish) Involving guesswork.
Comments
(Manglish, Singlish) To estimate or guess.
Agak-agak means: To estimate or guess.. It is mainly Singaporean English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
agak-agak means: To estimate or guess.. Register: informal, Singapore English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Comments
Used in
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "agak-agak".
🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "agak-agak" (A)
Browse all slang words starting with A.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- jiak62%
To eat, from Hokkien 食 (chiā̍h). One of the most-used Singlish verbs after "makan", with the same basic meaning but a slightly more casual, Hokkien-flavoured register. Forms many compounds: "jiak chuah" (lazy at school, literally "eat snake"), "jiak liao bee" (a freeloader, literally "one who has eaten the rice"), "jiak buay liao" (cannot finish eating). Used both literally ("jiak already?" — have you eaten?) and figuratively in the compound forms above.
- ag check61%
A moment of verification or acknowledgment that someone is displaying authentic AG (actual gangster or aggressive go-getter) behavior. Used online to call out, confirm, or question whether someone's actions genuinely live up to the AG label, often as playful social accountability.
- ag mode60%
A state of laser-focused, no-nonsense, results-driven behavior where someone embodies the AG (actual gangster or aggressive go-getter) mentality completely. When someone flips into ag mode they cut the chatter, stop caring about perception, and just execute — whether in competition, business, or social situations.