alamak

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay alamak, see it for more.

Pronunciation

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

Interjection

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.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:wow

Anagrams

• Kalama, Kamala, kamala

Malay

Etymology

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”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /alamaʔ/
• Rhymes: -amak, -mak, -ak
• Hyphenation: a‧la‧mak
• (Johor-Riau) IPA^(key): [ʔälämäʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ

Interjection

alamak (Jawi spelling الامق)

1. oh my God, (literally) Mother of God (expression of shock)

Further reading

• “alamak” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.