Kopi 'O' pronounced as copy and a letter 'O'. 'copyyo' sound-alike.
If you're in Malaysia, and visit a hawker stall or a local restaurant, say....
Kopi 'O' satu.!
You will get yourself a cup of black-jet local Coffee. A pure coffee.
Talking about Kopi 'O' I remember a story of my late Aunt, who came from the Philipines. That was her first visit to Malaysia. She spoke Tausug, a language widely used in the province where she was born.
She was in a noisy local restaurant, which a soft talk ordering would not get an attention. Shouting is the best way to order. When she heard the waiter shouted KOPI 'O'..!!!
She turned to the direction where the guy was shouting at. She waited and waited...wanting to see how the person would look like, but the person shouted at never appear. it was only later she knew what is Kopi 'O' .
Tausug pronounced 'Koop-pee-O', means 'Flat head' (refering to a person)
*******
Another story took place when a friend and I went to Jakarta for a meeting. We were invited for drink at a nice restaurant.
"You must try kopi-o " This is how we heard it sounded, when a client recommended it to us.
"ok" , we both agree, thinking that a coffee would help to gain back energy after our long journey.
We waited...........
2 glasses of white-ish drinks arrived. We waited for ours. The other started to drink theirs, while we both watched.
" Dont you like it.?" The client asked.
"What? oh..this? is this mine?"
yes, thats 'Kopiyor"
er...but..this is white...
Where is my coffee?
Didnt order Coffee, you ordered Kopiyor, a fresh coconut water and grated fresh coconut flesh
Kopi-O. Say it right, on the right place.
After a long pause, I just made a cup for me.
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