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Singapore slang
To be afflicted by; to be hit by; to suffer an unfortunate event (from Malay)
Safe to use?
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Tone
Casual and context-dependent.
Region
Singapore
Formality
Informal.
Context Decoder
Check what it means in context, how it sounds and whether it is safe to use.
kena means To be afflicted by; to be hit by; to suffer an unfortunate event (from Malay). It is best read as singapore slang associated with Singapore.
"kena" means To be afflicted by; to be hit by; to suffer an unfortunate event (from Malay). In Singapore, the nuance may be more specific.
Casual and context-dependent.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Context-dependent
Profound; complex; highly technical (from Hokkien).
Terrible; disastrous; severe (from Hokkien).
Good; nice; smooth; attractive (from Malay).
Embarrassed, awkward, or shy — the Singlish word for feeling sheepish
A term of light, often playful endearment.
One's highly committed, long-term romantic partner.
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SlangWatch entries are maintained by the SlangWatch Editorial Team using submitted examples, regional labels, tags, and ongoing reader corrections. We avoid claiming a precise origin or cultural pathway unless the entry has meaningful supporting data.