Meanings
swee1
plural swees
- A finch of species Coccopygia melanotis, found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Synonyms: swee waxbill
swee2
comparative more swee · superlative most swee · reduplication swee swee
- SinglishGreat, neat, nice, excellent (often used as an interjection when something has gone smoothly).
When it comes to charity, Irene will make sure everything is ‘swee swee’ (Hokkien for perfect).
2011 April 3, Yeoh Wee Teck, quoting Harry Yew, The New Paper, Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings Limited, pages 10–111 more example
“Sweee!” and “Gooaaal!” That’s the familiar cry heard throughout the neighbourhood. It’s English Premier League and there’s no greater equaliser ground than the kampung coffeeshop in uniting Singapore’s football fans and followers.
2014 January 26, Sylvia Toh Paik Choo, The Sunday Times, quoted in Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English, Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings Limited, page 3 - SinglishrareNeat and tidy.
- SinglishrarePretty, good-looking.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA finch of species Coccopygia melanotis, found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Origin
swee · adjective
- Hokkien媠“pretty”
- Englishswee
From Hokkien 媠 (súi, “pretty”). Compare Tagalog yasuwi. Perhaps reinforced by sweet.
More words from Hokkien
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
swee. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/swee
“swee.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/swee. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “swee,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/swee.
Source: swee on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.