Oxford Dictionary welcomes nasi lemak, alamak, 10 other M’sian words

Free Malaysia Today

It says these words, while commonly used by English speakers, cannot be directly translated into any other language.  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/03/27/oxford-dictionary-welcomes-nasi-lemak-alamak-10-other-msian-words/  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #Oxford #Dictionary #New #MalaysianWords

Transcript

00:0012 untranslatable words from Malaysia and Singapore have been added in the latest update

00:06to the Oxford English Dictionary.

00:09Based on OED's website, these words lack a direct translation but are widely used by

00:14English speakers to bridge linguistic gaps.

00:18Words added to the OED included alamak and exclamation expressing emotions such as shock,

00:24dismay or outrage, which the dictionary notes can be difficult to translate directly.

00:29The widely used phrase tapau, a Cantonese word that refers to taking away or packing

00:34up food, has also been included.

00:37Several food-related terms have also been added such as ketupat, fish head curry, half-boiled

00:43egg, kaya, kaya toast, nasi lemak, otak-otak and steamboat.

00:48The OED has also recognised words like mak rempit, which refers to a typically young

00:53man who participates in illegal motorcycle street racing and often performs dangerous

00:58stunts.

01:00Another notable addition is teror, which in Malaysian English can mean both terrible-awful

01:05and admirable-excellent depending on context.

01:08Natasha Biest, FMT.

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