Thought I would do this sometime… Think most of us are quite curious about what some coffeeshop lingos when we hear the coffee boys or ladies shout our orders in a different language in a neighbourhood coffeeshop. Here is a list that I’ve came across and compiled for your reference! 😉

 COMMONLY USED LINGOS:

1. Kopi – Coffee
2. Teh – Tea
3. Kopi O/Teh O – No evaporated and condensed milk.
4. Kopi C/Teh C – With evaporated milk added. Usually the sweetness from the usual condensed milk is replaced by sugar.
5. Kosong (Means ’empty’ in Melayu) – Refers to nothing added to the beverage say kopi, teh, milio, horlicks, etc.
6. Siew Dai (Less Sugar) – Usually they will put half the usual amount of sweetness. Usually used with the name of the beverage in front; Kopi Siew Dai, Teh C Siew Dai, etc.
7. Kar Dai (More Sugar) – Usually one more teaspoon of sugar or condensed milk added.
8. Nai Long – Condensed milk with hot water. This was the milk replacement for our grandparents when they do not have access to fresh milk in the old days.
9. Diao Heu (Means ‘fishing’ in Hokkien) – Refers Chinese tea bag with hot water. Usually Oolong tea.
10. Tak Kiu (Means ‘play soccer’ in Hokkien) – Refers Milo drink. Can be used with O, Siew Dai or Kar Dai. Lingo came about from the soccer image on milo tins.
11. Sua (Pronounced as ‘Swa’) – Refers to double order. So if you have 2 people ordering the same thing, use it behind the beverage name. For eg., Kopi Sua, Teh Sua.
12. Dinosaur – Not in the usual coffeeshop but usually at muslim and indian eateries where pratas and mee gorengs are sold. Used for Milo and Horlicks only and it refers to having more milo or horlicks powder sprinkled on top of the iced milo or horlicks. Super sinful…

UNCOMMONLY USED LINGOS (BUT CATCHING ON):

1. Clementi (Name of a town in SG) – Refers to Ice Lemon Tea. Lingo came about cos it sounds like it.
2. Tio Huay Sio (Means ‘caught fire’ in Hokkien) – Refers to Hot Chrysanthemum drink. Dunno how this term came about though…
3. Si Geena (Means ‘dreadful kids’) – Refers to Ribena drink. According to a friend, the term came about probably due to advertisement with kids jumping around in it… Geez…

Will update more if I come across more of these lingos. Stay tune! 🙂