can lah
Compound of the modal "can" plus the Singlish particle "lah" — meaning "of course it can", "yes, go ahead", or "yeah sure, no problem".
Definitions
Compound of the modal "can" plus the Singlish particle "lah" — meaning "of course it can", "yes, go ahead", or "yeah sure, no problem". Used as a confident, slightly impatient agreement when someone asks whether something is possible or allowed. Tone matters: a relaxed "can lah" is friendly reassurance; a clipped "can lah!" can mean "stop asking, just do it". Often used to wave off excessive politeness — "Can I borrow this?" "Can lah, take." Functionally similar to British English "yeah, course you can".
Can lah, no need to ask, just help yourself.
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Related terms
Semantically related
- lah82%
The Singaporean and Malaysian English particle par excellence, derived from Hokkien and Malay. Tacked onto the end of a sentence to soften a statement, signal casual rapport, mark mild emphasis, or confirm what has just been said. Tone of voice changes its meaning: a falling "lah" is reassuring ("don't worry lah"), a flat "lah" is matter-of-fact ("cannot lah"), a rising "lah" can be impatient ("just do it lah"). Examples: "Eat already lah, don't wait for me." "Come lah, the show is starting." "I told you lah, it's in the kitchen." Considered the single most recognisable feature of Singlish.
- kan ni na70%
A Hokkien-origin profanity used in Singapore and Malaysia, literally meaning to have sex with your mother, a direct maternal insult. One of the strongest expletives in Singaporean and Malaysian Chinese informal speech. Used as a standalone exclamation, as an intensifier, or at the start of a sentence for dramatic emphasis. Extremely vulgar; entirely inappropriate in formal or professional settings. Variations and intensifications of the phrase are common in colloquial speech, often with added particles that shift the emphasis or direction of the expletive.
- lor70%
Sentence-final particle of resignation, mild acceptance, or "well, that's just how it is", derived from Hokkien. Used when stating something obvious, agreeing reluctantly, or shrugging off an outcome you can't change. Carries a flatter, more passive feeling than "lah". Examples: "If you say so lor." "Cannot help it lor, the boss already decided." "Then we just go home early lor." Often paired with a small shrug or palms-up gesture; native speakers say its meaning is almost impossible to translate without the tone.
- kan ni na69%
A Hokkien-derived Singaporean and Malaysian vulgar expletive, used as a general-purpose intensifier or expression of frustration, anger, or exasperation. Literally a sexual insult targeting someone's mother, but in practice it functions more like a broadly profane exclamation similar to 'fuck' in English. Typically used in casual Singlish speech and among friends, particularly by Chinese-Singaporean and Malaysian speakers. Often abbreviated 'KNN' in online contexts. The term is highly offensive in formal settings but is relatively normalised in certain informal registers.
- lagi68%
(Singapore, Singlish) , even more.