different between idk vs lah

English

Phrase

idk

1. (text messaging, Internet, slang) Abbreviation of I don't know.

Alternative forms

• IDK
• I.D.K.

Related terms

• dk / DK / D.K. ; (don't know)

See also

• ukn (“unknown”)

Anagrams

• kid

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l?/

Etymology 1

An anglicised spelling of la.

Noun

lah (plural lahs)

1. (music) Alternative spelling of la

Etymology 2

From Malay lah or Cantonese ? (laa1).

Particle

lah

1. (Manglish, Singlish) Placed at the end of a phrase or sentence either for emphasis or reassurance.

Anagrams

• Ahl, HAL, HLA, Hal, LHA

Further reading

• Singlish "lah", with a possible deep connection to colloquial Arabic from Language Log
• Manglish "lah" and its affinity to Arabic "muhibbah" from Language Log

Malay

Etymology

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lah/

Particle

lah

1. (informal) Final particle indicating an imperative, reassurance or emphasis.

Descendants

• ? English: lah (or directly from Cantonese ?)

Middle English

Alternative forms

• la?, la?gh, laghe, lawe, law, lou?, lou, lo?, logh, lough, low, lowe, loue

Etymology

From Old Norse lágr, from Proto-Germanic *l?gaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l??x/

Adjective

l?h (plural and weak singular l?he, comparative l?here, superlative l?hest)

1. low

Related terms

• aloue

Descendants

• English: low
• Scots: laich

References

• “loue, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.