PETALING JAYA: Words such as “agak-agak”, “kaypoh” and “boleh” have officially been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in its latest update.
Oxford Languages announced on Tuesday that its quarterly update includes words from Malaysian and Singaporean English.
Among the new entries is “agak-agak”, used as both a noun and a verb to describe guesswork or estimation, particularly in cooking, where ingredients are added intuitively rather than measured precisely.
The dictionary also added “wayang”, which can refer to a theatrical performance using puppets or dancers, as well as a figurative term describing pretence or something flashy or fake.
Another entry, “boleh”, is defined as a verb meaning to have the ability to do something and as an interjection expressing agreement or approval.
Loanwords from Hokkien were also included, such as “jialat”, describing a difficult or troublesome situation, and “kaypoh”, referring to a busybody who meddles in other people’s affairs.
Other additions from the region include “assam laksa”, “ice kacang”, “Mat Salleh” and “play play”, which means to fool around or not be serious.
Oxford Languages said a word is considered for inclusion in the OED after independent examples are gathered from various sources, along with evidence that it has been in use for a reasonable amount of time.
