Kopitiam
Revision as of 17:05, 19 November 2010 by Melvinchia (talk | contribs) (→Customization (for Coffee, Tea, and other hot drinks))
Definition
Hokkien term for Coffee Shop
- Kopi: Coffee
- Tiam: (hokkien) Shop
Description and History
Traditional kopitiams have marble-top wooden-base tables, and wooden chairs. They are usually found on the ground-level of two-storey shophouses.
Modern-day kopitiams are also known as food courts, and are usually located in shopping centres, and serve a variety of international fare.
Kopitiam Lingo
Traditional kopitiams have a variety of lingo which vary from place to place. A non-exhaustive list of commonly-used terms follows:
Drinks
- Kopi: Coffee
- Teh: Tea, usually prepared with tea-dust, does not come in a tea-bag
- Diao Her: (hokkien for Fishing) Tea, the tea-bag variety (usually Lipton [1] or Rickshaw brand)
- Tak Kiu: (hokkien for Kicking Ball) Milo [2]
- Hor-lick: Horlicks [3]
- A Hua Tien: Ovaltine [4]
- Shi-Pee: Sprite [5]
Customization (for Coffee, Tea, and other hot drinks)
- Kosong: (malay for Zero) No sugar
- Siu Dai: Less sugar
- See: Carnation Evaporated Milk [6]
- Oh: No milk
- Peng: (hokkien) With ice
- Pau: (hokkien for packet) Take-away