huat ah

Malaysia, Singapore/ˈhwʌt(˦)ɑː(˧˨)/[ˈhwʌɾ(˦)ɑː(˧˨)]

interjection

A traditional, festive expression used to wish oneself prosperity.

OriginHokkien 發啊 /发啊 →
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Meanings

interjection
  1. MalaysiaSingaporeinformalA traditional, festive expression used to wish oneself prosperity.

    For some strange reasons, some people are shouting "Huat ah" as they toss paper money in the air.

    2012 December 24, Albert Tay, “Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore”, in wordpress.com, retrieved 01 Apr 2016
    2 more examples

    Huat ah! The pronunciation of "eight" in Hokkien (Chinese dialect) sounds similar to "Prosperity". Good luck and may you win the lottery!

    2014, Jane Lai, “Yusheng designs”, in pinterest.com, retrieved 01 Apr 2016

    The lo hei dish eaten by Singaporeans to herald the Chinese New Year with shouts of "Huat ah!” festive greetings exemplifies a Chinese cuisine with local Singaporean identity.

    2015, Yongnian Zheng, Liang Fook Lye, Singapore-China Relations, page 224
verb
  1. MalaysiaSingaporeinformalintransitiveTo prosper.

    This new year, all of us will huat ah!

    2008 December 31, babychloe, “TTCing2009/2010 babies grads”, in singaporemotherhood.com, retrieved 01 Apr 2016
    2 more examples

    And, I wish everyone a Happy New Year for the upcoming new year. Let's Huat ah!!

    2010 December 27, Jaymeetan, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all”, in wordpress.com, retrieved 02 Apr 2016

    12 New Stunning Looks Based On Your Zodiac to HUAT AH This Chinese New Year

    2016 January 11, Joyce Yang, “12 New Stunning Looks Based On Your Zodiac to HUAT AH This Chinese New Year”, in thesmartlocal.com, retrieved 02 Apr 2016

Origin

  1. Hokkien發啊 /发啊
  2. Englishhuat ah

From Hokkien 發啊 /发啊 (hoat--a), from 發 /发 (hoat, “to produce, to grow, to develop, to prosper, to pay out”) + 啊 (--a, “particle of exhortation”).

More words from Hokkien

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

huat ah. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/huat%20ah

MLA

“huat ah.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/huat%20ah. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “huat ah,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/huat%20ah.

Source: huat ah on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.