alamak - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Unadapted borrowing from Malay alamak, see it for more.

• (Singapore, Malaysia) IPA(key): [ˌɑlɑˈmɑʔ], [ˌɑlə-]

alamak

1. (colloquial, Malaysia, Singapore) Oh dear (expression of shock or dismay)
   • 2019, Cherlynn Ng, “Near-collision with Mercedes going against traffic during rain in Yishun: 'So scary ah!'”, in AsiaOne‎[1]:
     “Aiyo! Nearly langgar leh! So scary ah! Alamak! Why you go so fast!” he is heard exclaiming to a companion in his car.

• See Thesaurus:wow
• Kalama, Kamala, kamala

Probably contracted from Allah (“God”) +‎ mak (“mother”), possibly under Portuguese influence (compare Kristang alamah (“Mother of God”)). Malaysian linguist Amat Juhari Moain suggested that the word is contracted from Arabic اللَّهُ مَعَكَ (al-lahu maʕaka), a traditional phrase meaning “May God be with you”.

• IPA(key): /aˈlamak/ [aˈla.maʔ]
• Rhymes: -amaʔ, -maʔ, -aʔ
• Hyphenation: a‧la‧mak

alamak (Jawi spelling الامق)

1. An exclamation or expression of alarm about a problem or error; oh no.
   Synonym: astaghfirullah
   Alamak, aku tertinggal telefon kat rumah!
   Oh no, I left my phone at home!

• fulamak
• "alamak" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [_Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)_] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017