cúli

See also: culi, -culi, and cu li

Macanese

Etymology

Most likely from English coolie, from Hindustani क़ुली / قلی (qulī, “hired laborer”), possibly from Ottoman Turkish قول (kul, “servant”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈku.li/

Noun

cúli

  1. coolie, rickshaw or trishaw carrier
    Chomâ quanto cúli para cartá tudo ancuza ― Call for a few coolies to carry everything
  2. (derogatory) useless person, person of no worth

Derived terms
  • cabéça-di-cúli (“stevedore at the docks and markets responsible for a team of coolies”, literally “head of coolies”)

References

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Noun

cúli m (plural cúlis)

  1. coolie (unskilled Asian worker)
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