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We are all familiar with the word b*ngsat in Bahasa Melayu, often used to describe someone deplorable.
But did you know its roots trace back to Hokkien?
According to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the seven-letter 'B' word means orang jahat (a bad person).
However, a deeper dive into the origin of the word links it to the Hokkien word for 'bed bug': 木蝨 / 木虱 (ba̍k-sat).
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore (NUS) explains that its literal meaning is 'woodlouse'.
Below is a clip of how 'bed bug' is pronounced in Hokkien:
While it is unclear how the Hokkien word for 'bed bug' evolved into an insult in Bahasa Melayu, it isn't surprising
Many Malay curse words actually come from terms that weren't vulgar in origin. Think mak kau hijau (your mum is green), anjing (dog), babi (pig), and mangkuk (bowl).
Over time, local Chinese communities also adapted Hokkien, often borrowing Malay words, weaving them into daily speech, and sometimes even shifting their meanings.
For example, mata (eyes) commonly refers to 'police' in Hokkien. Ask any local Hokkien speaker, and the only word they'll likely know for 'endure' is tahan, usually heard in the phrase buey tahan (cannot stand it). Read this story for more examples.
This exchange works both ways. One of Malaysia's most beloved words, kuih, comes from the Hokkien and Teochew word 粿 (kóe), which refers to steamed cakes or dumplings made from rice flour.
Other borrowings include beca (trishaw) from 馬車 (bé-chhia), and teh (tea) from 茶 (tê). Even the English word 'tea' traces back to Hokkien.
All these examples show how languages evolve by borrowing, mixing, and reshaping words — a process that linguists often highlight as the foundation of cultural richness.
