Meanings
interjection
alternative hiya · alternative haiyaa
- MalaysiaAn exclamation of exasperation, said especially when a bad event occurs.
Coordinate term: fuiyoh
1 more example
Don't strain rice in colander, haiyaa!
Synonyms: aiya
Synonyms & antonyms
interjectionAn exclamation of exasperation, said especially when a bad event occurs.
Similar
Also see
Origin
- Hokkien害矣
- Englishhaiya
From Hokkien 害矣 (hāi--ah).
More words from Hokkien
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
haiya. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/haiya
MLA
“haiya.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/haiya. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “haiya,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/haiya.
Source: haiya on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.