Singapore Expats

So whats the deal with the term Ang Moh?

Is it just playful, is it rude or what? I am getting the feeling it might be like Aussies calling an Englishman a POM or used loosely like Banana.

I see some people throw the term round on these forums and have even seen it on tv.

Thoughts?

Do a search on the word "ang moh" on this board and I bet you're busy reading for the next few months.

sai gwai lo!

I use it in self-effacingly with taxi drivers, etc. as in "...even an Ang Moh would know this is not the direct way...."

it usually gets a curious and somewhat sheepish reaction

Superglide is right. This issue has been bounced around more than a "Big Fatty" at a Greatful Dead concert.

This touches on the topic of racism which has been mentioned in several meetings over the past few weeks.

The easiest course of action for me is to give in and say what I hear the most.

This is Singapore. Racism is against the law. Therefore, it does not happen.

This is evident in the HDBs. Since they have to live next to one and other that is proof that it does not happen.

Never mind that a company may have a department that is 99% Chinese, or a department is 90 percent Malaysian Chinese.

Racism does not happen here.

Just ask around and see for your self.

Do me a favor though. Make sure you ask more than one Chinese and ask more than one Malay.

And Indian.

and peranakan.

and ang moh

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The term "Ang Moh" is not rude. Nor is it racist. Its simply a Hokkien-Chinese term which means "Red hair". Maybe the Chinese saw a lot of British with red hair when they got here during the 19th century...?

However, "Ang Moh Kao" is rude... It means "Red haired Monkey"... That's not very nice.



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Ang Moh is two syllables, caucasian is three syllables. Singaporeans love to cut as many syllables out of their speech as possible so naturally ang moh wins.

Racist overtones have largely disappeared from this particular term.

Nailah wrote:The term "Ang Moh" is not rude. Nor is it racist. Its simply a Hokkien-Chinese term which means "Red hair". Maybe the Chinese saw a lot of British with red hair when they got here during the 19th century...?

However, "Ang Moh Kao" is rude... It means "Red haired Monkey"... That's not very nice.



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"Ang Moh Kao"?? Have never heard someone said this before?? But yeah...it's rude if they added "Kao" there...

Anyway, anyone knows the meaning of "Ang Mo Kio"? Aware that Kio means bridge...but doesn't really know the real meaning...

hk203 wrote:"Ang Moh Kao"?? Have never heard someone said this before?? But yeah...it's rude if they added "Kao" there...

Anyway, anyone knows the meaning of "Ang Mo Kio"? Aware that Kio means bridge...but doesn't really know the real meaning...

Hmm... I can recall a picture of the rain forest in my history textbook when I was a kid... that was Ang Mo Kio before development...

Here's Wikipedia's explanation of AMK though... Seem like "Ang Ko Kio" is indeed "Westerner's Bridge"...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Mo_Kio

I grew up in Ang Mo Kio by the way... Fond memories...

Nailah wrote:

hk203 wrote:"Ang Moh Kao"?? Have never heard someone said this before?? But yeah...it's rude if they added "Kao" there...

Anyway, anyone knows the meaning of "Ang Mo Kio"? Aware that Kio means bridge...but doesn't really know the real meaning...

Hmm... I can recall a picture of the rain forest in my history textbook when I was a kid... that was Ang Mo Kio before development...

Here's Wikipedia's explanation of AMK though... Seem like "Ang Ko Kio" is indeed "Westerner's Bridge"...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Mo_Kio

I grew up in Ang Mo Kio by the way... Fond memories...

Apparently, the word "Ang MO' is extracted from the hokkien word "Ang Mo Dan" (rambutan). LOLOL

I have again gained new knowledge today. Hee hee

hk203 wrote:Apparently, the word "Ang MO' is extracted from the hokkien word "Ang Mo Dan" (rambutan). LOLOL

I have again gained new knowledge today. Hee hee

Hahahaha! Oh no... we're derailing the topic like its nobody's business....

Hmm... am suddenly craving for rambutan...




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